The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-12 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXPRESS.

a,—Permit me through the medium of your
columns to call the attention of members of parliament and
the public to an attempt that is now being male to create
a monstrous monopoly in the supply of meat for the vast
population of the metropolis, and, in fact, the country at
large. The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, which is
now pasting through committee in the House of Commons,
has for its object the continuance and enlargement of the
powers of the Privy Council to make regulation by orders
in council for the landing and disposal, by slaughter or
otherwiee, of all animals coming from abroad. A t present
the regulations affecting the importation of cattle into
London are :—All animals are landed at places hemmed by
the Privy Council, and are then retained in quarantine for
twelve hours, at the expiration of which they are carefully
examined by government veterinary inspectors, and if
found free from disease are taken under a license direct by
railway to the Metropolitan Cattle Market ; but if any an
foand to be suffering from disease, the whole cargo is
slaughtered on the wharf. The owners of those that go
to the Metropolitan Cattle Market enjoy the advantage
of having their animals offered for sale in a fair and
open market in public competition, and where oil
the buyers of London go to make their purchases.
Every animal after having been in the market must be
slaughtered within seven days, and is not permitted to
pus away into the country. A pass, permitting the ani-
mals to he taken anywhere within the boundary of the
metropolitan district, is given to each purchaser in the
cattle market, stating the number of animals, the letter
and number of license under which they came into the
market, and the place to which they are to be taken for
slaughter. The above, with the exception of the quaran-
tine and veterinary examination, also apply to English
animals ; thus there is no fear of rinderpest or other
cattle diseases being conveyed to the stock and herds of the
British farmer. The bill, as introduced by the govern-
ment, proposes to continue these regulations, uud gives the
Lords of the Privy Council power to make such other re-
gulation as they may deem advisable ; but notice has been
given by Mr. Corrance of an amendment (which I have
reason to believe will be supported by the county Mem.
bees), making it compulsory for all animals coming from
abroad for the food of the people to be slaughtered at the
landing place.
The effect of this clause, if carried, will be greatly to
enhance the price of meat, for there can be no doubt of
there being a loss of at least 30s. per bend on cattle
slaughtered at the landing place, inasmuch as the retail
butcher. will lose the sale of a great portion of the offal,
have no control over the manner in which the animals are
slaughtered, and incur great expense in going to and.
from the place of slaughter.
' The trance why this attempt is being made to put
restriction on the importation of foreign cattle is to pl..ce
the entire monopoly of the supply of live animals for the
metropolis in the hands of the English producer, or if not
successful in that, to obtain a higher price from the con-
sular.
I trust the enlightened members of the conservative
party will not be dragged through the mire by that wen=
of it who seem not to have forgotten what they called the
balmy days of protection, and who seize every opportunity
to return to it.
It must be understood this is not a question of cattle
plague, for the present regulations have killed th.it ; and
by degrees those regulations, I have no doubt, will be
greatly relaxed, for the people demand food at the cheapest
pouille price it can be procured, and are not prepared to
give up the well tried and successful legislation of the late
Sir Robert Peel in 1610. Representatives of large consti-
tuencies and the liberal members of the house should be
.starrytt,g the
toethbileiri pi" nitcispunlesdzd.seupepotrltehe
aregovuenrn.iii.usient
is
upwards of 600 cattle salesmen and butchers in the metro-
polis having petitioned the House of Coninious in its
favour, and thus enable the people of this country to have
the advantage of obtaining ailr food from all parts of the
world without restriction, and at the cheapest possible
price.— I ern, Lc., THOS. RC DK IN,
Chairman of the Markets Committee of the
Corporation of London.
17, Newgate-street.

William Smith, a Liverpool cotton dealer, was
on Saturday committed for trial on a charge of haling in
his pout three samples of cotton that hail been stolen
on the previous day from a lad, who had been sent with.
the cotton to Old Hall-street by his employer, lUr. George
Helder, cotton merehant.
On Saturday one of the wheels of a carriage on
the London and South Western Railway took fire moon
after leaving the Woking station. Several of the less•
aengers who discovered the smoke cried out to the engine-
driver and guard to stop the train, out their voices wens
not heard. On arriving at the next station the nuriago
was then taken off. It was stated that the oil pan had
not been property supplied with greas►