KILLING CATTLE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 910, 1 September 1910, Page 6

KILLING CATTLE.

VARIOUS METHODS DISCUSSED.V WHICH IS THE MOST HUMANE?; . There was quite an interesting- discussion at the Conference of, Societies for the. Prevention, of Cruelty to' Animals yesterday on the best, method, of slaughtering, cattle. ' By best, in this case, means the most humane—that which gives tho animal the least -. pain. '■ Tie chief speakers on' the . subject weire the Hcv. A. T. Chodowski and, Mr. Zouch (inspector at Christchurch). . Mr.' Zouch -that, he had plenty of: proof,:.,sufficient for any reasonable person, that, the,present method of killing stock in the Dominion was a cruel one.. He evidently referred to the Pithing method, as he followed up his introductory -remarks b>\ affirming that the - highest. authorities , , in England and: elsewhere had agreed that the stunning process was the least objectionable in that it caused less pain and 1 suffering. Mr, Chodowski: "No." , ■ v... Mr. Zouch'said that, he had the best proofs :in support of his contention. ■ He had no time for the cruel-method of ■pithing. Mr. Zouch was. proceedingto advance ' further arguments in support of his contention, vchen Mr.- Chodowski questioned if tho. speaker. was in order. ' The- chairman ruled, that he was in . order,-, and Mr.. Zouch' continued: by. stating that the Act made no provision for' the- method of slaughtering animals.- They might bo knocked on , the , : head,- , 'have their throats cut, or. be ; stuck. Eo had nothing to dp-with religious, rites, but. the, least .painful method should bo adopted. , ;. ' : V, .'.vY':- , "V".',-;,, ■:■.■. Replying: to' an interjection from: Mr. •Chodowski (who ia the -Rabbi-."of. Dunedin),;the speaker ;said that-.surely the societies knew .which: was the best of the killing processes.:' . ■'■.:.':"•■ •■':■. ■ .Mr. ■■ Chodowski: "The societies do ;■ yott dp-.not." ; : -' ; ,i,; ■>:...::■ ; :-,..'■ • ... ;. -■..: Mr. :Zoucli went on reiterating' his , ar- , guments for stunning ",as ./against pithing. ■-;.:,.-:V;..',:.;',r. •■;,■-,. -,•,-.■■ ...■/, .':Mr..•'Chodowski. said it "was not' eyeryV one who was'capable: of deciding; what ; the, most; humane method -of was, though. I people -itook.'. if upon- themselves to .give., .opinions/''Hβ was glad : . to .seethat Mr.:. Zouch -agreed <.wittt him --.that'pithing- was cruel.; 'Personally, he: had an experience of .ov.er -a' quarter of a 'century; , ;both-, theoretically and'■ practically. Herb the speaker quoted the opinion of a Russian expert; (and the author of. a-.-. standard - work on■ the.' subject)' whostated.'that,the most humane method of slaughtering-w,as.' by the'.proojss ":of thoracic .bleeding-the' Jewish method ; of , killing. -A Berlin professor ■ had writtento the speaker stating';that in'.his: ion .the Jewish ; method was"easily : preferable,;. A,.few.seconds after the throat' of. an os-was put. syncope took place. Be--fore: ii/ Jewish.slaughterer .was , allowed to .km he,had; to pass.a very, strict examination.yThe .principle 1 of thoracic-ible'ed-' ing ; was;' governed .by. 'the law that V lib who/inflicted; unnecessary pain committed' a- sin.: The shooting ,;of the. animal: was' condemned- by scientists, on-tho ground that it was not so', sure or safe;;and the meat was.nbt.'s'o wholesome as'when freeiWeeding did. not ■ take place.'" :Th«.pitLiag idea was : also "unsafe;;: There was , mo',', cruelty' attached:- to ...the Jewish;, -methodj'. -■ and ecpnbm'ically it was .-.the best'and: certainly .• the ;■ safest.':' Meat killed' by, stunning: or pithing, was heavier than' kosher .meat;-, which ' was'. 'perfectly .drained. '■ The"-; qriestion was. whether, :thb conference';could, enforce : the. Jewish process: upon 'the slaughterers" of New-Zealand;;.,■::.:'.■:;/' Mr. l Zouch v explained..the. Jewish- system as':he; had seen it, ,-On ' the; pcca- • sion' ,inv question,' Rafter .tho. /Topea' weru jelased.'.the- animal attempted , -to 'Strug-' gle .back to'its!stall, -'and-three a'nd- ; .three-' quarters -/minutes/afterwards .'it ''had,, to'n receive ■ its'- quiotus: by -pitKiitg; : :V,>:.;::,; V.;v- ---'. Mr;..Chodowski:-Tlmt..wasi an accident; thatiwaS; an /accident!: -'. ' ■■••:'.■.;■' . Mr.; Zonch.said-that anfimpprtant com-: mittee:sef; up to, inquire: after, the-:most'-i careful'.investigation' found , that .the Jew- | .'isli Vmethpd> -"compared ■•..unf avpurably ■'.in '.',■ all .respects"with the other; system;.'-that : the: "casting , -before ; killing",was-:';:detri-'niental, to the Tmeat; -and that : -th«i"'Jew-" ish ; . system should. not', be 'permitted , '- iii any - slaughterhouse ; under Government control. 1 :- -...'. ; '■''■'■'■. : Y.-'■;':■.■,.>''■:- '■~:'% ,".■.:;, Finally-'Mr. S.' Galwaylmoved, and-Sir. I Chodowski'seconded: "That ;in':.connection with the .slauKhtering of;-cattle- the 1 " i.iov-: ernmeht be'.'asked'-.to inquire whether.the: pithing,; method should be v: allowed ~. as against .the .stunning method in the; abattoirs of i.the Dominion."f This was. carried unanimously.' " . ■; -; "■;■: ■'■*~ ''■■'. ;:.:.: -v