The Globe. FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1875.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 311, 11 June 1875, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1875.

In' refusing an application for a slaughter-house license yesterday in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, the Magistrate remarked, as he has done on previous occasions, on the necessity that exists for some action being taken towards the establishment of public rfat fairs, His Worship said that it

was a pity that the butchers did not take this action, but, if the necessary works are to be done, we doubt very much if the butchers will not look to the Government for the construction of them. As long as the butchers can go on slaughtering on private grounds they will not make use of public slaughter yards, which would entail the necessity of their operations being performed under the eye of an inspector. As a rule the meat exposed for sale in the different butchers shops in Chrisrchurch is of first-rate quality and condition, but there must be occasional exceptions to this rule, and these exceptions would be rendered impossible by the building of the required slaughter yards. At the same time it must be evident to the butchers that every year there will be more difficulty in obtaining the necessary slaughtering licenses for premises situated within an easy distance of the town. The suburbs of Christchurch are spreading so fast, that in a few years time any slaughter yard within some miles of the centre of the city will be more or less of a nuisauce to various residents near, and the opposition to the granting of the license will in this case be very strong. The remedy for this lies in the establishment of public abattoirs, and for this purpose a reserve was made by the Government of the day some few years back. So far as we are aware, however, the matter never got beyond this stage, and it is time steps were taken to make use of the reserve in question, if it is proved that the site is suitable for the purpose. The abattoirs, once established, would, wo think, if properly managed, be a source of income to the Government, and at all events could not entail any drain on the revenue of the province. One of the immediate effects of the establishment of the abattoirs would be the division of the butchers of the city into two classes. The one set would probably pursue the business of carcass butchers, and the other attend to the requirements of the town by confining themselves to the retail trade. The number of the former would not be great, as from three to four men of capital would be able to supply the retail trade with the quantity of carcasses necessary for the consumption of their customers. The danger in the case would be the formation of what would be called in America a “ ring” of butchers, who would combine to raise the price of meat. But as the town grows larger the number of buyers for the supply of the retail trade mustincrease, and the vigorous competition which would then ensue ought to act as an effectual stop on any such combination. With regard to who ought to take the preliminary steps as to the establishment of the requisite buildings, we must disagree with the R. M. when be wonders that the butchers do not take the initiative. These gentry will not put themselves out of the way, as they act on the principle that “ sufficient “ for the day is the evil thereof,” and the public must be the movers, if the abattoirs are to be built. It will be bard enough to procure a meeting of those who would benefit from the withdrawing of the licenses from the present slaughter-yards, as these persons are scattered, over such a large area of country that such a meeting would probably be a failure from lack of attendance. A petition to the Government, however, properly drawn up and addressed, and the signatures to which should represent those who suffer under the present system, would perhaps have the effect of inducing the present occupants of the Ministerial benches to give the subject “ their earnest consideration.”