Chain Slaughtering System

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 96, 17 January 1935, Page 11

Chain Slaughtering System

Sir, —Regarding Colonel C. P. Butler’s remarks reported in your columns, does the gentleman concerned really understand the chain system of killing, or is he endeavouring to induce the Australian employers and employees to consider n possible change-over from solo to chain killing?

I will deal (as a slaughterman) with his remarks concerning the actual killing. A chain worker might once in a while cut out his 100 daily—i.e., 2SOO or 2900 for the chain total. It has to my knowledge never occurred in the particular shed at which I am employed, and this is the third season under the chain system, in one of the most efficient mutton sheds in New Zealand. As to the carcases being better dressed, the foreman butcher’s remarks on this subject have kept a couple of Recording Angels working overtime! The solo butcher handled his own line or pen of carcases; on the chain each carcase is handled by about 30 or more different persons. Torn flanks, broken briskets and badly legged sheep area common occurrence. Why the skins should be more valuable I fail to see. I had a. vague idea that market prices and fellmongery methods had something to do with the value of pelts. When Colonel Butler says there are more by-products, well, it sounds like an insinuation against the old “solo” butcher, unless, of course, the sheep themselves grow more of these commodities when they know that their days will be ended by chain. His last remark about the work being “less laborious” is about the limit. Let the gentleman experience the monotony and drudgery of, say, cutting off 2800 heads, or cutting off 11,200 trotters!. The solo system was by far the less laborious; men who have worked under both systems are entirely in agreement with me on this point. May I ask the colonel whether he has any practical experience of either of the two methods of slaughtering?—l am, ete„ CHAIN SLAVE. Masterton, January 14.