" DISGUSTING GASES"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10604, 1 June 1920, Page 6

" DISGUSTING GASES "

NEWLY-BORN CALVES MADE INTO SMALL GOODS. What were described as '"'disgusting cases" by Mr Thomas Charles Webb, Stock Inspector, were heard before Mr E. Page, S.M., in tho Magistrate's Court, recently, when John Telford and William Ernest Hull were each charged, with slaughtering calves for human consumption at other than a registered abattoir, and with killing and dressing calves weighing less than 601 b for human consumption. The case against Telford was taken first Mr J M. Dale, who appeared for the accused, entered a plea of guilty. Ho explained that his client was unable to be present as he had a milk round which was of a scattered description, but that he would probably bo in attendance later.

HARD TO DETECT OFFENDERS. Mr AVebb said that the cases were disgusting. The regulations provided that a calf under 601 b weight must not be sold for human consumption. Telford was a dairy farmer residing at South Karori, and he eold a calf which only weighed 321 b, and which ha had dressed and skinned, to a pork butcher. Complaints had been made concerning newly-born calves having btKin Bold to butchers for tho manufacture of small goods, but the offences were hard to detect. The animals were brought into the city at all times of the day and night. He had heard, on tho hest of authority, although it had not come under hie personal observation, that during the spring, when cows were heavy in calf, and sometimes died from milk fever or other causes, that calves had been taken from die mothers and sold to tome butchers. The department asked that a severe penalty be imposed, as it was extremely difficult to bring the offenders to "book-" —it was more difficult than catching a sly grogA calf weighed 301 b and over when born, but it was not known in the present case if the calf was born or not. The department had stopped the feeding of pigs with newly-born calves, and they are being sold as stated. "MAKING IT HOT.**

Mr Dale said that Inspector Webb, in saying that the calf may not have been born, was making it hot for his client. Such was not the position, however, <is the cow was still going strong. Telford was a small dairy farmer, and it was ITTs usual cuutom to bury newly-born calves. In the present case it was his intention to bury the calf after ho had skinned it, when hn r«nipmbered that n. pork butcher had asked him for the calves, and he r-sold the carcase for 7s. It was tho first time that Telford had offended, and counsel could assuro the court it would be the last.

In order that Telford might give evidence in his own behalf, the case was adjourned till Monday.

THE C\SE CONTINUED PENALTIES IMPOSED IN EiACH CASE. The case was continued yesterday. The defendant Telford, giving evidence, said that the calf was over' a week old when it was killed. Ho skinned it. and as it was a i>artioularly fino calf he decided to sell the carcase to a pork butcher in Newtown, receiving as payment 7s.* Mr Page, S.M. : Why did you take tho calf right from Karon to Newtown?—l mat Merrill, the butcher, in tho street and ho asked me where I was now, audi had I any calves. Inspector T. C Webb, of the Agricultural Department, told the magistrate that a watch had been kept for some considerable time to endeavour to detect breaches of tho regulations. Tho law prohibited dairy farmers from feeding; their calves to pigs, and then they brought the carcases into town to bo sold for human consumption." Telford, iai answer to a question from the magistrate, replied that it was tho first time ho had sold a calf in that manner since he had lived on his farm aiti Karori. Mr Page: Did you sell any calves previous to your living at Karori? —I have no recollection. onnsel for the defence then called other witnesses, who stated that tho calf concerned was a few days old when it was slaughtered and that it was a healthy calf. Counsel submitted that one charge should bo withdrawn as if the magistrate imposed fines on both charges the defendant would bo punished twice ovor. * A DISGUSTING SIGHT.

Inspector Webb said the calf was far from being fit for human consumption, and that when ho and another inspector had seen tho calf in the butcher's. shop it was a disgusting sight. It was immediately condemned. Mr Pago stated that although -leiford had given definite statements that ho had never sold any other calves from his Karori farm, ho (Mr Page) was not so clear as to defendant's previous operations. It seemed strange that defendant should take it into Ins head to sell the dead calf to the hutcher without reason. Defendant would bo oonvited on each charge On the first cnarge Telford was fined £2O, and £lO on tho second and ordered to pay costß.

CHARGE'S AGAINST HUNT.

When tho cases were first heard, Inspector Webb said that tlie same set of circumstancos apphed to the case against Hunt, who was a dairy farmer .at Miramar. The magistrate: To whom was the calf sold? Mr Webb; To J. Merrell and Company, pork butchers, of Riddiford I Tho' magistrate: Have they been prosecuted? Mr Webb: Not yot. It is a matter for tho City Council. Tho defendant, who pleaded guilty, said the cnlf ivaa four to five days old when he killed it. He never brought n calf in from his farm tintil it had been running with its mother for two days. Calves born in. the winter wero usually killed and buried, and tho one in question ho skinned and took to a pork butcher on the chance of selling ft The butcher did not want to buy tho carcase,, but witness persuaded him to do so, Tho accused was fined £2O on the first charge and £lO on tho second.