The Irish standard., 1909-03-13
IRISH EGGS FROM AUSTRIA,


IRISH EGGS FROM AUSTRIA.
Under this caption, the Weekly In
dependent of Dublin says that eggs
fraudulently labeled Irish" are sold
extensively throughout England. In
che case, they were shown to be Rus
sian eggs, in another Danish, and in
still another Austrian. AS Irish eggs
are of superior quality there is more
demand for them in England than for
the eggs imported from the continent.
They bring a higher price than foreign
eggs and have a reader sale. When
they are all sold by the English deal
ers the foreign eggs remaining I'M
sold are labeled Irish" and sold to
customers at cheap prices. The puy-
chasers are imposed upon, and finding
the so-called Irish eggs of inferior
quality they soon cease to buy them j,
the market.
"A typical case, says our Dublin con-
temporary, was tried in a. town nea.
Manchester, the Department Of Irish
Agriculture having brought an action
to stamp out these frauds. The IN
dependent says:
"A shopkeeper had affixed to eggs in
his premises label bearing the words
finest Irish eggs IL shilling. They
We're, he informed an Inspector of tha
Department, cheap for Irish eggs
but these finest Irish eggs were Au-
strian eggs of an inferior type. The
Bench held that. there had been a
fraud upon the public, but, for what
reason it is hard to conceive, they de-
cided to take a lenient view Of the case.
There were to our mind no mitigating
circumstances in the case, and If mag
istrates exhibit leniency where frauds
of this despicable type are proved 1t
will be difficult to repress the practice.
Misrepresentation like these iniure
the~regulation Of Irish produce in the
English market besides imposing on
consumers. Magistrates should. thers-
fore, have no hesitation in inf1icting the
maximum penalty on shopkeepers who
sell inferior foreign produce as SUI
perior Irish."'
It is nothing new for the English and
Scotch to palm off inferior goods for
the real Irish article. British manu-
ss--t /. III 3 9 F."
features bearing an Irish stamp are
sold today in Ireland, and American
tourists are often imposed upon by
interruptions dealers. Releek pottery
was manufactured sdne years ago in
the North of Ireland. The clay was of
a superior quality and the earthenware
when glazed and baked was Of the
finest texture. It surpassed anything
of the kind in transparency. The Eng
lish made cheap imitation Of it, seui
it into Ireland and sold 1t as rea. Be-
leek pottery to Americans and others.
We understand that the Beleek work,
in Ireland are driven out of business
or bought up by the British. It is
the same in clothing. British-made
suits and underwear are sold as Irish
in Ireland. The writer knows what
Re is talking about, for he was nearly
taken I'M by unprincipled shopkeep-
ers. He demanded to see the Invoice
in order to know where they were
made. and as they refused to produce
it. he declined to buy. He afterwards
learned that the goods were English
and Scotch.
The Irish people set the worst Of
II on both sides Of st. Georges Chan
mel and the Irish Sea. Napoleon long
ago described England as "a nation OF
shopkeepers." and he might have used
the adjective dishonest" before the last
noun. We are glad that the Irish Agri-
cultural Department is looking after
these tricks Of trade. Ireland is e
draw farm for England, and the least
that England can do Is to give Ireland
"a square dear when thrown in cons
petition with continental countries In
the BritiSh market, ss3ss