FOOD SUPPLY FOR ENGLAND.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 433, 2 November 1875, Page 4

FOOD SUPPLY FOR ENGLAND.

The London correspondent of the Argus , under date September 3rd, says . Everday day the question of meat supply for England becomes of more and more importance. Notwithstanding the exertions of Mr Tallerman and others, tinned meats are never likely to meet with the same approval as fresh meat, and with the likelihood of an increased price for the latter, prospects are most serious. During the last month the question of meat supply has been very pro minently brought forward, in consequence of London being threatened with a stoppage of the supply of meat from abroad, unl'ess the regulations of the Privy Council as tn the foot and mouth disease are relaxed, as the importers say that they cannot carry on fbeir business except at a serious loss, It

appears that if one infected animal be found in a whole cargo, although that may number several hundreds, all sheep or cattle coming in that vessel are taken away to Deptford, and are slaughtered, whilst in the case lot importations from Ireland, only the animals infected are killed. A deputation waited on the President of the Council on the subject, and he promised to consider the matter, but as yet no relaxation of the regulation has been made, and we are told that the continental supply will be stopped altogether. Meanwhile America has taken to sendipg us over stock. On Tuesday, the 17th August, thirty-eight bullocks were sold at Islington that had been brought over by the Olymphia, from New York. They were in excellent condition after their twelve days’ journey and you can form an idea of their size and value from their realising between £36 and £4O per head. It was the first importation of cattle from New York to this country, and it was due to telegrams sent over telling graziers there of the state of the market here. Several other lots have since arrived, and have been disposed of at most satisfactory prices. Other lots are on the way, and more will follow. It is stated, upon authority, that in no single instance has the foot-and-mouth disease been seen in the herds in the States. The importers say that if they are allowed to send over on the same terms as the Irish importers, they have a practically inexhaustible supply. Should, however, the existing regulations of compulsory slaughter of entire cargoes be insisted upon in the event of the disease being seen in one or two animals, the importation from America will at once cease, as under those circum stances they would not pay. Much diversity of opinion exists as to what should be donejby the Privy Council Bome advocate a strict enforcement of the present regulations as the only safeguard against the introduction of the disease into English flocks and herds, and they would then apply the same rule to Scotch and Irish importations, whilst on the other hand a very large proportion of the public, including all the importers, go in for an extension of the rules applying to Irish cattle to those coming from abroad. Meantime a better class of cars are being made for carrying cattle by railway from Hungary to French ports for shipment to England, and the cars will convey the animals the whole of the land journey without the animals having to be changed on the route.