THE CITY & ITS PORK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1844, 2 September 1913, Page 10

THE CITY & ITS PORK.

END OF INQUIRY.

REPORT TO BE PRESENTED,

The committee set up by the Wellington City Council to inquire into tho city's system of tho inspection of pork continued tho hearing of evidence last evening. There were present: Councillors G. Frost (chairman),' A. H. Iliiidmarsli, W. ,'i■ Thompson, J. L. cerald, and Mr. J. O'Shea (City Solicitor). Evidence Resumed. Mr. S. C. I3aron, general manager for Messrs. W. Dimock and Co., was the first witness. In reply to Councillor Fitzgerald, ho outlined tho system of inspection in his factory. Ho said that he could not sec- why it should bo deemed necessary to have an inspector of offal at a bacon factory, while there was not one at tho municipal abattoir. If such an inspector was necessary ill one place ho was nccessary in both places. Ho could not therefore say that the public were sufficiently safeguarded. Ho did not know of pigs having been condemned on an insnection of tho oifal only; but this method enabled the inspectors to more easily traco disease. The Government insisted on the inspection of the livers and tho entrails of export pork. Continuing, tho witness said that if pigs wero properly examined tho condemnations would bo heavier than they now aro in town. In some instances farmers stood their own loss and sometimes tho loss was relieved by insurance. Thero was nothing whatever to prevent a farmer curing his own bacon and sending it uninspected to tho city. It was not compulsory to have inspected pigs which wero given by farmers to restaurant-keepers in 1 exchange for swill. It was 110 offence to sell uninspected bacon or pork; tho offenco camo in only after inspection. Thero wero few diseased pigs in Marlborough. Ho had known porkers condemned, and tli'? fact that pigs wero young was no guarantee that they were not diseased. Councillor Frost: Do you know of an.v diseased pork coming into the city ? Mr. Baron: I have not noticed any. Councillor Hindniarsh: Ho has not been on the look-out for any. . Councillor Frost: I am asking him the question straight out. Councillor Hindniarsh: We are only concerned with the opportunities. Mr. O'Shea then questioned the witness, who said that the Wellington district (as regards pig diseases) compared very favourably with other districts. Abattoirs Manager. Mr.' J. C.. Mackley, manager of the Municipal Abattoir, was the next witness. Ho was asked by tho" chairman if tho system of inspection in Wellington properly safeguarded the public. lio replied that ho preferred not to answer the question, as it might prejudice his position. "You have had the opinion of our director, Mr.., Reakes,' he added. v Mr. Hindniarsh: Mr. Reakes said that tho inspectidn was adequate. This witness won't give his opinion; evidently he doesn't think tho inspection adequatc. , '• Mr. Mackley was questioned as to whether it was rigidity of system which caused a small number of pips to bo dealt with at tlio Wellington abattoirs. Ho replied that Wellington was in a. different position to Christchurch. Duncdiii, and Auckland. What Wellington lacked was a live-stock market. In the other cities pigs were sold at tlio weekly sales of stock. Wellington butchers had to go into the country for their pigs. Here, livers could bo safely eaten: they ' were, insnected. The healthiest pigs wero those fed 011 cooked food, such as those fiom Paparangi and like districts. The general average of condemnations at tlio abattoirs was 7 per cent; ■ Mr. Hindmarsh: It is two percont. in the shons. ■ . . . Mr. Hindmarsh: Do vou think it is possible for farmers to cure their own bacon? Mr. Macklev: Certainly: don't have classes for farmers' bacon at the showsP

Mr. 0. jr. Gardner, the contractor for' killing at the Municipal. Abattoirs, was present, but did not wish to state any reason as to why some pigs wero not taken to tho abattoirs to be killed.

The committee then asked the press and witness to retire, and tho chairman stated that an endeavour would bo mado to present a report to tho next meeting of tlio', council.