OUR MEAT SUPPLIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81890, 11 December 1906, Page 3

OUR MEAT SUPPLIES.

AHATTOIUS COMMITTEE'S ItEPUUT THK " DAILY NEWS'" CHARGES. The abattoirs committee submitttnl their report to the Xow IMymoutli Borough Council ia>l night. The committee held an oii<|iiiry into the charges as to the management of the abattoir which appeared in an interview in tlie DA 11 A' NEWS of December l>tj In addition to the committee, the following were present: Captain Voting, representing the Agricultural Department; Mr Ueakes. abattoir manager; Mr X. Mack, head slaughterman; Messrs K. \Y. Dixon. \\\ Sole, E. Sole, G. l'rancis, and Scott.

: charges of tl«' butchers were taken seriatim us follow: —"Charge 1. With keeping pigs in a dirty state in close proximity to the meat hanging for human consumption. Tl.e committee found that while pigs had been kept ill tod close proximity to the meat in the abattuir, there is no truth in the statement that they were kept in a dirty state, and this was admit told by the master butchers present. Recommendation The committee recommends that a proper pigsty with the necessary appointments and a race leading to the abattoir be erected a distance from the, abattoir building, in compliance with section 4!> of "the Swue'litcring and inspection Act, im"

"Charge 2.—With neglecting to construct a proper pigsty at the abattoir. This charge was dealt with iu the above recommendation.

"Charge 3.—With sending out meat (ox-tongue and tripe particularly) in a filthy state. in order to prevent any complaints in the future under this heading, the committee recommends, (a) that a new trough be provided for scalding pigs and the present tub be used for cleaning tripes (bj that an inspection table with a proper rack as recommended by Capt. loung be provided for holding the tongues. "Charge 4.—'With failing to kill cattle properly. The committee finds that this charge has not been sustained, but feels that au improvement couid be effected by improving the concrete llooring ill the vicinity of the pithing pens; by filling in the existing drain and by giving ell'eet to the butchers' recommendation for the improvement iu the arrangements provided for yarding up from the starving paddock. Xnc committee recommends accordingly.

"Charge a.—With neglecting to wipe dowu the meat. At tile request of tile butchers the charge was altered to read 'with willing down meat with a wet wiper, whereas a near _ * ; y wiper should be useil.' The coiiiii.n.... ijund that at times the wiper u>cu uv.o tuo wet and recommend that t lie abattoir employees be instructed to give effect to the suggestions of the butehers as to the proper method of wip ing down. "Charge ti. —With not enfouing the wearing of clean clothes by uie butchers' carters. The commune iinds that this charge lias been diap.uvcd. This completed the speeiiie charges, and other matters mentioned in the i'ress were dealt wuli. "The master butchers admit) ed that there was 110 truth iu tUe Yemeni made iu the sccoud paragraph of the lirst article (the interview with the butcher. —lid.) that butcher;, not make complaint to the Inspector because of tue risk of having an extra number of cattle eoiuienuujd. Ihey stated that they hud every omlidt-mr in -Mr Brakes us inspector. "Butchers exposing meat outside their shops.—ln connection with the inspector's recommendation mat a bylaw be made to prevent butcher:. Horn exposing meat outside their .-lev, committee is of opinion Ihut "i. L tcr has been met by the butchers undertaking not to expose meal outside their shops oil dusty days, and basing received this assurance, me cuiii.nittcc makes no further recommendation in this matter.

"The committee recommends that the Master Butchers' Association be asKed to send a representative to attend all meetings of the Abattoir Committee for the purpose oi conferring with and advising the committee.

"The committee, being of tile opinion that tile loss of the bullock w.ilargelv due to the negligence of tinemployees at the abattoir, recommend- that .Messrs Sole liru:-. be paid .CT tUr~. the value n( the bu11.;.-';, ami that tlie lnanail.t lie inili.i i'jn.n to peVnollilllv reiltnd "in- !i.ill ii \li> amount to the Council.

The .Mayor, in moving the adoption of the report, said that whilst ..o re lleetion would be east 011 the >■ the abattoir has not been conducted as cleanly as possible under the circumstances. Speaking on elaa-.e the .Mayor said that one tongue :llul one tripe were proved to have come into town ill a state unlit for human consumption. To satiny the '"eating department," he would state that these had been taken possession of by Captain I'oung, and committed to the digester. it was found that there were not sullicient appliances, and complaints were made that the tripes and tongues were thrown 011 the lloor aud knocked about. Hut then the lloor ought to be as clean as any table. Butchers complained that many of the carcases of meat were sent to the shops looking dull, and not as bright aB it ought to do. This was found to be due ill many cases to the fact that there was no guide to the race from the starving paddock aud wild animals were sometimes driven round and round the paddock and got very hot. Then it was not possible to turn out meal o[ a good colour. Concluding, His Worship said there were so many things wrong, there were so many things not there that ought to be 'there, that tile committee recommended that a master butcher sit with the abattoir committee, in order that his advice might be placed before the Council. Cr. lirowne s.iid there were evident !y

good grounds for the [lew-paper state- j nients, for the committee had made a recommendation oil nearly every charge. There were no pig-.-tye.s. no races, "no this nor that," and he laid the blame 011 the Health Department, which had forced 011 the town the erection of the abattoirs. The thing should have been done properly at lie t. Cr. lieliringer: tine of the worst ab attoiis in the province; at least that s what an expert says. Cr. Coliis wanted to know how the Council was responsible for the loss of the bullock. lie thought the whole blame should be should* red by Sole llros. and the manager on account mI the beast not having la-en branded. Cr. Colli, wanted to know how tincommittee arrived at some of its doeisioiis. l-'or instance, how did they tind th*- butchers' carters hail been v,earing clean clothes? Had the commil lee in [>eet ell Ihe e(i;l 1 lie- Mayor slid tliey had had elusive evidence thai the clothes wenclean.

(,'r. o>Hi* failed If') sec lio\v that miin. Hi' M-n a HM-.it earlciV coat that would liave >1 :nxl up by ilsc!f when tin.' OWH«T stepped out of it.

Tin- Mayor said Cr. C'ollis should have jiiven hia evidence In-furu the collinl it toe, Cr. Ilcllringer said tin' direct 'pi"--lioiH were put to .Mr licakc.-, the manager, asking if he had ever had any ca,i-e to complain of dirty clothes-. lisill he ever seen dirty eoats oil the and his answer was "No."' I I'. I 'olli-, I'eill ;i rking Oil the expo. - illg Ot' nie.it Oiliside the -hops. said i> wa- the most important in regard to the cooked meat-, which wen; oirici lo .lie taole of the eon-inner. Tin—>■ . he prol ect ed a- try cooi.i pro!i elei| ilii'ir goods. Cr. 1>"11 ri i r: That's Captain ionic's theory.

'flic .Mayor Miid th' ie was not Hi hill!', da peer. The p- oplc gcllclally ..oiihml -ave.oys. for n-liw".

Tiie Council, nfier "inch di-cu—ion :i!,oiit. (he fences at the ahattoil-. adopted tile report.