Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1903. INSPECTION OF MEAT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 January 1903, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1903. INSPECTION OF MEAT.

Some of the Opposition journals have referred to the present Administration as “ the rake all, make all, and take all Government,” giving nothing in return. We are not prepared to say that this is so, but in regard to the Agricultural Department it looks a little like it. At the meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council on Thursday a letter was read stating that all by-laws made by local authorities under the Act repealed by the Slaughtering and Inspection Act have been revoked, The document further goes on to say“ I understand that several of the Greymouth Slaughterhouse licenses paid inspection fees to the Council for the last quarter, and as they naturally object to pay fees to the Department also, I shall be glad if your Council will refund to the licensees at its earliest convenience all such amounts. I need scarcely point out that the work of inspection has been performed by the Department and not by the Council .” The members of the Council did not seem to know what to think of the matter. Some got angry, while others laughed at the cool eli'rontry of the Secretary. The matter was quickly disposed of, a unanimous vote of the Council instructing the Clerk to reply “ That the Department of Agriculture be informed that the Council declines to refund the fees paid ; that the Council employes and pays its own inspector who inspects all carcases slaughtered, and further that so far as Greymouth is concerned the Agricultural Department has no officer who attends and performs the duty of inspector.” As a matter of fact the Government Inspector has been seen once or twice on a flying visit in this district during the past year, while Mr Ainsworth, who is the Borough Inspector, is in daily attendance at the slaughter yards, and watches and inspects every beast killed, and has done his duty fearlessly. What he has done may be guaged by an official return for the past two years, during which time thirteen bullocks, nine cows, three calves, three sheep and five pigs which were killed and intended for human consumption were by his orders condemned and burned. Yet in face of these facts, Mr Ritchie coolly remarks “ the inspection has been performed by the Department.” If all other Government inspection is as thorough as under the Agricultural Department, then the word “inspection ” possesses a meaning most folks are unaware of.