FOREIGN GOODS SOLD AS BRITISH 305 



In April, 1894, this report came before the Council, when 

 general approval of its proposals was expressed, and the 

 President of the Board of Agriculture was asked to introduce 

 a Bill to give effect to its proposals. In 1895 this subject was 

 added to the Parliamentary Programme of the Chambers 

 by an unanimous resolution. In 1896 Mr. F. B. Mildmay 

 introduced his Agricultural Produce (Marks) Bill. It was read 

 a second time, but the Government gave 110 opportunity for 

 it to be proceeded with. On 31st March the Council unani- 

 mously approved this Bill, and urged progress being made 

 with it, but without avail. In 1897 Mr. Wingfield-Digby 

 introduced an almost identical Bill, and at the April meeting 

 the Council approved its provisions. It was read a second 

 time and referred to a Select Committee on 7th April. This 

 Committee reported the Bill without amendment, and said 

 that they were of opinion 



" That the identification of foreign meat and cheese is desirable, 

 and that there would be no great difficulty in carrying this out 

 in the case of foreign carcases and cheeses." 



The report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture issued 

 this year recommended that every person dealing in imported 

 meat should register as such, and that the inspection of retail 

 butchers' shops be made in the same way as under the Food, 

 and Drugs Act by duly qualified inspectors. 



No Member interested in this subject got any place in the- 

 ballot in subsequent years, and so no further Bill was intro- 

 duced until 1909, although the Council passed resolutions 

 in favour of legislation in October, 1899, March, 1904, and 

 March, 1909. After the last-named discussion, a new Bill was 

 drafted by the Secretary and introduced in the House of 

 Lords on behalf of the Chamber by Lord Clifford of Chudleigh, 

 but it was opposed by Lord Carrington and Lord Salisbury ; 

 and as there were not enough Peers present to go to a division, 

 the Bill was withdrawn. 



A new Bill with extended provisions has since been drafted, 

 has been widely approved by the Central and local Chambers, 

 and has been introduced in the House of Commons by Mr. 

 Harry Barnston for several years, but, as he has had no luck 



