FLIES, AND BUTCHERS’ SHOPS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2690, 21 December 1909, Page 7

FLIES, AND BUTCHERS’ SHOPS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln the main street of Gisborne, on a hot summer’s day, isi to be seen, what may well be termed, a most filthy and disgusting sight. I refer to the manner in which flies are allowed to gather andi crawl at their pleasure over meat whiclr is afterwards sold for human consumption. .Of lato years scientific research has enlightened us to the fact tbat.the fly is an extremely filthy insect, and the spread of many diseases (particularly, that of typhoid fever) is now attributed to flies carrying tlic baccilli to the food which _we eat. Times out of number have inspectors, doctors and others drawn our attention to this fact, and urged the public of this town, in particular, to wage a war against tins pest, but their advice does not seem to be acted upon in any, if one ~4i to judge . from an inspection oi the butchers’ shops. In most of the shops of the South Island and Wellington the meat is protected from flies by coverings of butter cloth, in which the meat is wrapped prior to being hung up, and is only uncovered as required. If this precaution is deemed necessary in the colder climate of Canterbury surely it is ten times more necessary here. Another innovation which has, of late years, been brought into vogue in both Wellington and Christchurch is that of having two large glass windows (similar to those of private houses, only on'a much larger scale). In fine, calm weather the bottom window is pushed up, and the meat, neatly wrapped in butter cloth, is exposed to view. In windy weather this window is drawn down, thereby ensuring a maximum of cleanliness. While giving great credit to the butchers for the great improvement by protecting the during the last four or five years, I contend that there is still room for great improvements by protecting the meat from the flies and dusfl (particularly the former), and if they ♦will not do this of their own accord the City Fathers should take the matter up. What- appears to be known, in tins town, as the “typhoid season” is approaching and unless we want a repetition of the sickness of last summer we must keep down flies. I am, etc. “CLEANLINESS.”