DISEASED PIGS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 209, 25 August 1908, Page 2

DISEASED PIGS.

imvJiKSAL iJNIM'JiUiiIUM UiiUliD. Diii'UXAXIUN XO Xllli MUMB'mt I'UR ACIIUUI LiUKlv. A JiiLl, i'KO-UirtliD. By Telegraph.—l'ress Association. Wellington, Last JMight. A deputation ui persons inicrcslcd in the bacon-curing industry wuitcu, uu tUe Minister lor Agriculture this morning, and urged lUiu greater facilities wore wanted ior the inspection of pigs killed lor human consumption outside slaughterhouses. 'lt was admitted that the present system of inspection of sheep and cattle was very ell'eetive, but complaint was made that' the inspection of swine was almost neglected. it was stated that of the 100,000 pigs killed last year nearly 0 pur cent wire founa to be affected. Ullicers of tile Stock Department lound that (.03 per cent, ol pigs in t<he country were affected Willi tuberculosis. Xlic companies lost about .CIOOO per yi'ur because they rightly killed pigs under a thorough system of. inspection, and they considered it unfair that other should be allowed to carry on wilihout any inspection whatever. The deputation suggested it should be an oliciice to expose bacon for salfc l either here or abroad which had not been killed under Government; supervision.

Ono speaker said his linn had 4!)8 totally condemned, ami these cost £1241), and of that only £228 would be received as compensation from the (Joveniment. The Minister, in reply, said it had been proved that the percentage of disease amongst pigs was much greater in the districts where dairying was carried on, and where pigs were fed on the by-products of factories. Till is was ono of tile reasons which had decided the Government to make a thorough inspection of dairies. lie would, introduce a JJill this session to make the inspection of all pigs killed at slaughtering establishments obligatory. He thought that eventually the slaughtering of pigs on lanns would have to be prohibited.