Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1910 — MEAT FROM ABROAD. [ARTICLE]

MEAT FROM ABROAD.

New Zealand Mutton to Undersell Home Mutton—Would Be Cheaper but For Duty. We have begun to import frozen mutton from New Zealand. This is a startling statement to make, but it Is true. Meat is so dear In America that our importers now find that they can bring mutton all the Way from New Zealand via London, pay the American duty of a cent and a half a pound upon it, undersell the meat trust here and still make a profit. -The Atlantic transport liner Minnewaska brought from London a few days ago 891 frozen mutton carcasses, and other steamers are reported to be bringing more. The way has therefore been opened, and it may prove to be permanent. England has been importing mutton from New Zealand for many years because her home grown mutton is too scarce and too dear for her working population. New Zealand mutton sells in England for 20 cents a pound, but it enters the country fpee of duty. It is good anti wholesome and has been described a§ “such meat as Americans have not had the pleasure of feasting upon.” Of course the duty of a cent and a half a pound ought to come off at once. The foreign mutton could then be sold that much cheaper. As long as the duty lasts it is ap encouragement for the home meat speculators to keep prices up. We are seriously to blame as a nation of consumers in allowing* our system of trade to become corrupted by monopoly. We have let the trusts put a rope around our necks. We must loosen that rope by removing the tariff, and we should never rest until we get a satisfactory answer to the question why a great country like America with boundless agricultural resources should have to import food from an insignificant little country at the other end of the globe.