February 4 1925
SIX members of the meat trade, one of whom bears the Gaelic name of MacCabe, write from Smithfield Market, London to ventilate a grievance. There is no more prosaic occupation in the world than that of the butcher and meat-seller; but our London friends have enemies amongst the romantic tribes of poets and musicians, and as they are impressing other long-haired geniuses into their service, the conflict may become as historic as that waged between the Big-Enders and the Little-Enders. Some bard wrote a noble lyric and called it “Eat More Fruit”. An inspired disciple of Orpheus and Wagner wedded brilliant music to the immortal verses. Then the BBC sent the combination forth on the swift pinions of wireless: and it was “a song of five verses and a chorus, all bearing the most pointed and slighting references to beef, ham, pork and lamb”. Thus it was, as the six butchers of Smithfield indignantly declare, “a direct challenge to all that the British butcher stands for”; they add – “Unless it is supressed or countered in some way, it may have a most disintegrating effect upon our already none-too-bright profession”.
Butchers in London condemned, what they saw, as a campaign by musicians and other artists to denigrate the eating of meat and promote more eating of fruit and vegetables.
***
The Cattle Trade
A conference of representatives of the cattle trade of all Ireland was held in Thurles.
It was announced that the cattle traders of Cork and the South generally who divided years ago on politics into two associations had decided to unite. The announcement was received with pleasure.
A welcome was given to the delegates from the North, and Mr W Conn (Belfast) said that if the cattle trade were united they could make their own terms. He regretted that they were not stronger in the North.
Interesting developments with regard to shipping were foreshadowed.
A resolution was passed unanimously approving of the suggestion to form a central executive of the live stock industry, composed of the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the different Irish live stock trade associations, to meet periodically to deal with any questions arising of national importance affecting the trade as a whole, and that measures be immediately set on foot for the formation of such a central executive.
With much in common in the trading of cattle north and south of the border, traders agreed to co-operate on an all-Ireland basis.
