The Express.
London, England, 1852-10-12 00:00:00

THE IMPORT DUTY ON FOREIGN

RABBITS.

When the late Sir Robert Peel reformed the tariff
so as to free the people's food from those particular duties
which during a long period of protectionist rule had ruade
it systematically dear, the item " rabbite " was omitted.
The import dutT on dead meat was abolished ; poultry and
game were admitted at a certain ad valorem duty ; but rab-
bits, dead or olive, in which there had hitherto been no
trade, were not thought of sufficient importance to he spe-
cifically excluded by a high duty, or to be admitted by •
specific mention of them as one of the articles of food on
which in future no import duty was t be charged. This
omission has given rise to mum doubt and inconvenience to
a new branch of trade which the reformed tariff
has created. The small two and three-acre farmers
of Belgium who are probably amongst the most
sate, prising and indefatigable of the fanning race—the
moment our restrictions on foreign imports war, removed
oximmenced the breeding of rabbits to a large extent, and
hays produced those immense supplies whichour poulterers'
shops have been of Late years displaying on Saturday nights
for the behoof of the working clamies, under the name of
Ostend Rabbits. But a question has arisen with the
Custom-bouse authorities as to what is the precise descrip-
tion under which this new description of foreign food
shall come in, and Custom-house Zoology has decided
that dead rabbits are poultry, and as such are
subj• et to five per cent. ad matorens duty. This
decision has occasioned much inconvenience to the
salesmen engaged In this trade, and has Merited to restrict
the supply, not so much on account of the duty as the Cur-
tom-house regulations, which often prevent the introduction
of the animals until they are unfit for human food. To
memorialise the Board of Trade on the subject, • meeting
of the importers and salesmen connected with Leadenhall
Market was held in September last, at which Ca.
min resolutions were passed, appointing • "deputa-
tion to confer with the Oencnd Steam Navigation Com-
pany, to induce them to facilitate the conveyance
of the 'aid!, and to consider Ow propriety of ap-
llying to the Board of Trade to remove the duty
evied on rabbits, meat being free." And last night
• supplementary meeting took place at the Bose end Crown,
Leadenhall-market, to receive their report. The chair was
taken by Mr. 0. Brooke, common-councilman for the ward,
who stated that so important had the trade in Ostend
rabbits become that, whereas, 15 years ago, the article was
hardly saleable in London, now there were from fifty to a
hundred tons • week imported, affording animal food Icr
1001,000 people at the rate of fib. each. The great market was
of course Saturday, but inconsequence of the Customs regula-
tions, the rabbits were frequently not delivered till 9, 10, and
sometimes 11 o'clock at night, and the consequence was
that they were often rendered unfit for human toed before
they could be sold • and the persons engaged in the trade
(numberings Mme 1,000 persons, including salesmen, porters,
and others), were depraved of their ordirary Sabbath rest.
The duty was not of itself a very serious item, but as the
Ostend packets came in frequently after Custom-house
hours on the day preceding the market, and as extra pay-
ment was required to obtain the delivery of the goods
on the Game evening, the freight of Is. 6d. per case,
was thus raised to • charge of 155., which was • serious
matter. To show the severity with which these regulations
premed upon the trade he might mention that one sales-
man, Mr. Davenes,; lost 1201. in two weeks last season in
consequence of the delay they occasioned. The Steam
Navigation Company had met the deputation in the most
handsome way and had undertaken to Pail their boats from
Ostend not later than 12 o'clock on the Friday night, so that
they might arrive in London by the middle of the Saturday
at the latest, which was all the saleenten required ; and all
that was now needed was the removal of the vexatious Cos-
tom house restrictions. _ _

wßewlutioas confirming the proceedings of the meeting of
the 24th of September, and authorising tioeutualcatioss to
be entered into with the Board of Trade in furtherance of
the object were agreed to, and, after a vote of Chaska to
the chairman, the meeting separated.