SALE OF PORK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1830, 16 August 1913, Page 15

SALE OF PORK.

p- — THE NEED OF INSPECTION. COUNCIL INQUIRY. The committee set np by tho Wellington City Council to considor the question of the slaughtering and inspection of pigs and the sale of pork in the city held its first meeting at the Town. Hall yesterday afternoon. Members of the committee present were: Councillors G. Frost, W. 3. Thompson, J. £. Fitzgerald, mid J. Godber. The City Solicitor (Mr. J. O'Shea) also attended. Councillor Frost was elected ohairman of the committee. The chairman said that the business before tho meeting was purely formal. The committee had power to examine witnesses, but none had so far been summoned. He read a list of witnesses whom it was proposed to call. They included veterinarians, stock inspectors, abbatoir officials, and others. The Master Butchers' Association had also _ nominated three of its members to give evidence. Ho suggested that a date should be fixed for the examination of the witnesses. Councillor Godber, who, as chairman of the Abattoirs Committee of tho council, had, moved the resolution which opened up the question, stated that in his opinion tho setting up of tho committee of inquiry had been-a slight on the Abattoirs Committee. It seemed as if the council had no confidence in its standing committee. The chairman said that the matter Was not one of confidence or want of confidence in' the committee. ■ Certain statements' had been mado in open council with regard to tho sale of pork, and the butchers of tho city considered that a 'wrong had been done them. Their association wrote to the council with regard to the matter, and tho inquiry was tho result of that letter. The council owed it to the butchers that they should have oil opportunity of placing their case before the public, and having some decision arrived at on an important mattcr. Councillor Thompson said that Councillor Godber was not quite corrwjt. The council, in moving the resolution warning the public of the Supposed dangers of the present system, had been cither right.or wrong. If it was wrong, the resolution would have to be altered. Councillor Fitzgerald said that time after time the council had asked tho Government to amend the law With regard to tho slaughtering and sale of pork, so (l 9 to provide for inspection of all carcases, but they had had "no earthly hope." This was because of a Strong feeling towards the farmers, who are at present ■'allowed to kill their own pigs, and then sell them. What tho council Wanted most particularly was proper inspection of pork sold in. the city. Pigs slaughtered at tho abattoirs were properly inspected. ' Councillor Godber: Quite probably thoy are. Councillor Fitzgerald: But we want a guarantee that pigs killed elsewhere aro also inspected. We want to know whether partly-diseased pigs are eold in tho city. . Tho chairman:-That is what tho inquiry is for. i We can ascertain these "things only by calling evidence. Councillor Fitzgerald said that ho thought Councillor Godber had been indiscreet in making cortain statements at tho oouncil meeting. Such statements should not havo been mado in public. The people's faith in the abattoirs had been shaken. If the statements were true, the abattoirs wero not fulfilling the purpose for which they had been erected, and the alleged practices must be stopped. Mr. O'Shea explained what had taken place when tho council last approached the Government. A big Attempt had been made in 1910 to have the inspection of pork made compulsory. I'he Hon. T. Mackenzie, who was tho Minister th'en in oharge of tho Agricultural Department, had met the conncil to a Certain extent, but said it was impossible to go to the extremo limit. Tho present system of inspection was only a first step to getting all pigs killed at Iho abattoirs. . Tho Minister had pointed out that it was cheaper to send dead pork by rail from, say, Levin, than it was to send live pigs to be killed at the abattoirs. In the speaker's opinion, tho whole matter could bo solved by. a reduction of the railway freight on live pigs. If pigs were carried at a smaller profit—or even, perhaps, at a small loss— the whole trouble would be settled. Councillor Godber: Tho Government should bo prepared to luako some sacrifice in the interests of the health of the people. It wa3 decided that the committee Should meet on Tuesday evening next, for tho examination' of witnesses. It was also decided to ask the Railway Department to furnish figures of tho'traffic in pigs and pork.