Horseflesh Found In Sausage Contents

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 302, 22 December 1939, Page 2

Horseflesh Found In Sausage Contents

AUSTRALIAN REVELATION. MELBOURNE, Dec. 13. The discovery of 2501 b. of horseflesh in the sausage room of a butcher’s shop was among disclosures made by the Hon. Minister, Mr. N. A. Martin, in explaining in the Legislative Assembly a bill to prevent the sale of horseflesh for human consumption. During a recent inspection of a certain abattoir, he said, a large heap of horse bones, nine horses’ heads and 36 horses’ hooves were found in a boilingdown room. Six horses were awaiting their turn to be slaughtered in a yard near tho abattoir. In another abattoir were found the manes and tails of 11 horses, 16 hooves and five heads. "There has never been, and there is not now, an open sale of horseflesh," said Mr. Martin. "Where horseflesh has been sold it has been sold fraudulently as beef or in forms not easily detectable, such as in meat-pies and sausages. We do not suggest that have been large sales, but there can be no doubt that a small trade in horseflesh has arisen." Mr. Martin explained that, as the law stood, there was nothing to prevent the slaughter of horses or the open sale of horseflesh as long as it was defined as such. The bill would prevent the slaughter of horses at abattoirs and would remove the danger of horseflesh being substituted for other meat prepared in the same building. It would still be possible to sell horseflesh as dog food, provided it was jn sealed cans labelled "Dog food," "Horse flesh,” or "Not for human consumption." The presence of horseflesh would be prohibited in butchers’ shops or factories where food was prepared and on vehicles from which food was sold. Another clause made it illegal to sell any meat from a boiling-down works. Penalties ranged from £lO to £SO for a first offence, and from £2O to £IOO for a subsequent offence. Mr. J. R. Jewell (Labour) said that goats and kids should also be included in the bill. Goatflesh had been sold in some shops as lamb and mutton. Mr. J. Dodgshun (Country Party) recalled that when on war service he had eaten both horseflesh and camelflesh. He did not like either, but he much preferred horseflesh. The bill was passed.