THE ABATTOIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2509, 24 May 1909, Page 4

THE ABATTOIRS.

VISIT OF CHIEF GOVERNMENT

V ETERIN ARIA N

An informal meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers on Saturday morning to inc-et Mr. C. J. Reakes, chief Government Veterinarian, and to discuss with him the working of the local abattoirs. The Mayor said that they had met to discuss the working and control of the abattoirs. In the contemplated change it was valuable to have the presence of Mr. Reakes and the benefit or his advice, as to the prudence of placing the abattoirs under the charge of the Government Inspector. Mr. Reakes said that he thought the Council had done a wise thing in deciding to place the abattoirs under the control of the Government Inspector. It was a great mistake to have divided control, and there was a great possibility of manager and inspector clashing. thus causing friction and impairing the work of the abattoirs. Tho present inspector was an able man; and from a practical point of view lie held tbattho inspector would give them every satisfaction if the appointment was confirmed. If tile appointment did not prove satisfactory he (Mr. Reakes) was quite prepared to send them another man. He had advised Councils to make the change suggested by the local Council, and with one exception none of them had desired to return to the old system.

He thought that the pig-killing arrangements and the pithing pen were capable of much improvement. He was of. the opinion that a narrow pithing pen was much preferable to the suggested larger pen. He realised that Councillors. as practical men, should he given every consideration, but thought that the small narrow pens were giving much better satisfaction than the old style. There were other minor improvements which he would like to discuss with tlio Mayor and Councillors on the spot.

11l answer to questions Mr. Reakes said that the Government man was to do all the present manager’s duties, except cleaning down the yards. There were only two abattoirs in the Dominion not managed by Government inspectors, viz,, at Paeroa, South Auckland, and Invercargill, and they were working satisfactorily. In answer to Dr. Collins, Mr. Peakes said that it was felt by the Government that they were responsible for the working of abattoirs. He thought\ under the existing conditions it was a wise* policy to place the present manager under a departmental officer. Even as manager, the present man had always been under the control of the Inspector. There was no restriction to the hours of working of the departmental officer. In the event of any dispute between the Council and the departmental officer if it was a question of management the Council, of course, had the right to adjudicate. Ho would, however, suggest that any such case, if it did occur, should be referred to him. The question of laying the water supply on to the abattoirs required consideration. Every abattoir should have a plentiful supply, but it was a question whether it would not be possible to get a sufficient supply by sinking a well, or perhaps increasing the strength of the pumping apuaratus. In answer to Or. Harris, Mr. Peakes ; said that there were one or two faults | in the construction of the pithing pen. at the abattoirs. The pen lie had previously referred to were of exactly the same inside dimensions as the local pen. To avoid fly-blows in summer, he said that special attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the premises. ; The only other alternative was to have flv-proof netting placed over the apor- ! lures. The latter would be a most ex- [ pensive arrangement. In answer to Cr. Clayton, Mr. Peakes said that the charges could not be said to be unreasonably high, although perhaps a little over the average* He did think.that anything that could be looked upon as a necessary, improvement, as a matter of maintenance could -- be reasonably expected to be provided jf for out of the revenue, unless the ex- ' nemliture were too great. The Slaughtering Inspection Act made provision that the abattoirs must not make more than b per cent, profit. It would bo illegal to make a large profit and retain it for the general revenue of the Borough, but it should rather he. expended on necessary .improvements or alterations to the abattoirs. They did not want to reduce charges and then find that their income was insufficient for their needs. He wanted to make it clear that if the Council did reduce the charges they should make sure that they_would not <h' at the ornonsc of making the abattoirs pay. It was the duty of the Council to give the butchers every consideration possible. The Mayor thanked Mr. Peakes for his valuable information and the meeting terminated. ..