The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-11 00:00:00

FREE TRADE IN FRANCE.

The Echo Agricok has the following remarks on
the consequences of the twofold application of the
principle of free trade in the butchers' trade in
Paris and in the importation of foreign cattle :
" Six months have elapsed since the butchers' trade
was declared free in Paris, and the tariff of meat
and the Caisse de Poissy were at the same time
suppressed. The throwing open of the butchers'
business has up to this time produced excellent
effects ; and it could not be otherwise at a period
when arrivals are easy and prompt, when the bases
of credit are perfectly established, and where the
consequences of free competition are known and
appreciated. At the time of the promulgation of
the decree (Ist March, 1858) throwing open the
trade, a general outcry was raised by those who
are opposed to reforms and changes of all kinds,
th 4 Paris would be inundated by a host of
butchers of the lowest class, who would only sup-
ply meat of the worst description, and that the pub-
lic would be positively poisoned, as all the exertions
of the police would be insufficient to prevent the
evil. In every memoir published on the question
at different periods under the inspiration of the
syndicate of the privileged butchers, and thes state-
ments were, set forth. Nothing of the kind, how-
ever, has arisen from the reform • scarcely 10 new
butchers' shops have been opened, and though the
weather has been very hot during the last summer,
no complaint has been made of bad meat, nor have
the seizures been more numerous than previously.
During the approaching season a rise in the price
of meat may be naturally expected from the partial
failure of the hay crop, and the consequent want of
forage, which has thrown great difficulties in tho
'way of breeders. This advance, when it takes
place, will doubtless, be attributedby the reactionary
party to free tradet, but we must beforehand pro-
test against such an inference. Throwing open the
trade could not cause the deficiency in the supply
of forage nor prevent the disease which, in many
parts of the country, has committed great ravages
among cattle. The decree which reduced the pro-
hibitive duties on the entry of foreign cattle into
France preceded by five years the throwing open
of the butchers' trade, having been issued in 1853.
Its effects may, therefore, be judged of. 'Whenever
a reduction in the import duties was talked of the
Protectionists raised a cry of alarm ; French agri-
culture was about to be ruined and annihilated ; it
was impossible that the French farmers could breed
and fatten cattle as cheaply as the Dutch and the
Germans, and the French markets would be inun-
dated with foreign cattle. The protective duties
which had been 50fr. per head, were reduced to
3fr., and during the five years that the new tariff has
been in force, if complaint has been made, it is that
so few foreign cattle have been imported. The re-
form in the prohibitive laws on the import and ex-
port of cattle has not caused any disturbance in the
agricultural interests of the country, notwithstand-
ing the predictions of its opponents, and the appli-
cation of the principles of free trade to butchers will
most probably not be attended with a worse effect."

COUNTRY MARKETS.