SLAUGHTER-YARD INSPECTION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 226, 4 July 1873, Page 5

SLAUGHTER-YARD INSPECTION.

( To the Editor of the Mount Ida Ghkoniox.e.\ f?i"R, —I don't know if it has-ever occurred to you that there is great room for • improvement-" ■ia .the manner m which the Inspectors of Slaughtervards discharge their duties. I will briefly put tho case before you, and leave you and your readers to judge. Erotn enquiries I have made, I find that Inspectors p„re supposed to visit the various persons licensed to slaughter cattle, residing in their respective districts, once a month (if convenient to them, the Inspectors, if not, the returns of cattle slaughtered are sent .to them through the post), and take a memo of the brands of cattle, <&c, slaughtered during the month, name of owner, &c., from a book kept for that purpose by the-butcher. So far so good. I don't know if the law is fully satisfied by such..a loose inspection— if so," there are few to be found in the Statute Book more needing alteration." It is tantamount to giving a premium to cattle stealing. v A number of cattle bred - and raised .in Ida Valley have lately disappeared, but, thanks to the insufficient . inspection prevailing, they cannot bo traced.

Yuu see, sir, nothing ia easier to'a-dia- ' honest .tradesman'"than to keep his books untruiufuliy : in the absence of all check. What would be more simple thau to require holders of slaughtering licenses to keep by them all skins for say a month, and providing that the Inspector on his monthly visit (such visit being compulsory) to compare the book account with the' hides of beasts killed ? This would, it appears to me, put an effectual cheque to dishonest, practices, and add very little to the duties of the Inspector, and be no hardship to the butcher. I would at the same time make it a punishable offence on the part of the holder of a slaughtering license to dispose of any skins or hides until inspection had taken place, and a declaration to that effect had been signed by the inspecting officer. Hoping you'will afford my enquiries and suggestions your support, I am, &c, A S'UPEEItER.