PUTRID PIGGERIES.

NZ Truth, Issue 67, 29 September 1906, Page 4

PUTRID PIGGERIES.

Since the appearance of "The Jungle," anything m the shape of putrid piggeries, m fact anything pertaining to pork, sends the average citizen almost crazy with the idea that it is a repetition of the Chicago horrors, ami, if the truth is to be told, recent disclosures m Auckland and Wellington justify those apprehensions. Not many weeks ago, our Auckland correspondent gave a detailed account of the revolting condition of many piggeries m the district. Pigs were proved to have been fed on raw horse-flesh, torn by them off the putI refying carcases, dead dogs, and other offal, some of which, even had it been boiled, as the law .prescribes, / warranted the interference of the authorities, and the prosecution of the pigkeepers. Prosecutions- were initiated and as there was not the slightest semblance of a defence raised, heavy and well-merited fines were imposed. Now Wellington has had its turn and at the Police Court the other day, a couple of pig^keepers were prosecuted for the offence of feeding pigs with offal, that, had not been previously cooked. The pig-keepers, char-g---od were Patrick Cavanagh, of Kaiwarra, and Herbert Liddeil, of JohnSonvilie. The evidence of the inspectors showed a shocking state of affairs at these pig-farms. Cavanagh 's porkers were found heartily enjoying a dead calf, raw fish heads and other equally delicious delioiaes, white Liddell's prime, "dairy-fed" porkers were shown to have been keeping the wolf from the door ,by a belly-ful of sheep's entrails. Magistrate Riddell made no discrimination between the pair and m each case inflicted a fine of £5 ami costs. There are various reasons why these proceedings should 1 be given full publicity. The first is, the inspectors, no matter how active and alert, cannot always be sure of sheeting home such charges. The practice of feeding pigs on uncooked offal seems to be universal, and whether pip> keepers are aware of the fact or not such is an offence, and they should be made aware of it. It is very nice reading for those, who love a little bit of "crackling" at times, to know that the pig they help to devour was reared on raw horse and cow, flesh, stinking fish, and on the entrails of sheep, .and for anybody to say that "dairy-led" pork of that description is wholesome is utterly ridiculous. Those who do anne that way ought to be condemned to eat pig for the remainder of their lives. "