THE SALE OF MEAT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5217, 16 December 1927, Page 2

THE SALE OF MEAT.

LICENSiES TO BE CANCELLED. HEALTH DEPARTMENT MATTER. The question of the application of Mr J. Bertelsen to sell and store meat at his premises in Queen Street, Paeroa, was finalised at the meeting of the Borough Council, last night. When the matter was before the council at its November meeting it was decided to defer consideration until a legal opinion was obtained. The district health officer was also invited to Paeroa to inspect the premises and discuss the position with the Mayor and councillors.

Last night a reply was received, and in the course of a lengthy legal opinion submitted by Mr T. F. Martin, counsel to the Municipal Association, the opinion was given that the license was legally granted by the council if the building was not erected or reconstructed after September 1 1924, and the council was satisfied that the requirements of the Health Regulations as being applicable to such a building had been complied with. The fact that the building was not in use for some period and was thereafter used again as a butcher’s shop would not amount to a reconstruction within the meaning of the regulations. The new regulations came into force on September 1. 1924, and contained no penalty clause, but an amending Act, gazetted in April, 1926, after enacting a ne'w clause (2a) as to the handling of meat, provided a penalty not exceeding £2O on any persons by whose act, default, or sufferance any of the regulations were contravened with a daily penalty not excelling £2 for continuance of the offence.

A lengthy report on all the local butchers’ shops was also forwarded by Dr. H. Chesson, medical officer of health, Auckland. With reference to the premises owned by J. Bertelsen, the writer pointed out that he had visited Paeroa on November 6 a-nd had made a careful inspection. With reference to Bertelsen’s premises the report stated, inter alia: “I must point out that meat requires to be stored in a cool, well-ventilated place, protected from flies and dust, and under such conditions as will’ ensure its preservation in good order. In the alternative it requires to be kept in a properly constructed chamber where a low temperature is maintained by artificial means; in other words, cold storage. Such conditions are not attainable in a brewery 4 where the process of brewing naturally requires heating. As the members of your council are well aware, this so-called butcher’s shop is in the interior of the brewery, being a brick chamber with spaces between the bricks in the roof and forming the base of a furnace for the boiling of the brew. It is well-known that brick holds heat for a considerable time. The chamber is not adequately ventilated, nor is it properly lighted. The conditions, in fact, are just the reverse to what is required to ensure meat retaining its .wholesome properties. No housewife would place her meat in such a place, and I must emphatically condemn this chamber as a place for the storage of meat.

“If Mr Bertelsen desires to carry on trade as. a butcher he must provide suitable premises for the purpose in a place where it is possible to obtain conditions necessary to preserve the wholesomeness of this foodstuff, and I shall be glad, therefore, if your council will cancel the permit previously given for the use of his present premises as a butcher’s shop. I trust that the council will take this action, as I have no wish to be placed in the position of having to enforce Regulation. 6 of the Regulations under the Health Act to prevent contamination of food during manufacture, storage, and sale in regard to premises for which a permit has been issued by a local body.” In moving that the council go into committee the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) said that he did so because he wished the dignity of the council to be maintained. There was bound to be two distinct sides on the question, and he wished to allow a free and full discussion before arriving at a decision.

On resuming iri open meeting it was moved by the Mayor and seconded by Cr. W. Turner that all butchdrs iu the borough be informed that at present the council has no legal right to grant or refuse a license, .and that all licenses, therefore, be cancelled and the fees paid for the current year refunded, a.s the matter was. now in the hands of the Health Department.