DANCER TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2740, 19 February 1910, Page 7

DANCER TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

FEEDING PIGS ON RAW OFFAL

A FINE OF £lO INFLICTED

At the Police Court, yesterday morning, before Mr. AA r . A. Barton, S.AI., Samuel Burton, Government Veterinarian (Air. Nolan) proceeded against James Sutherland, Awapuni, (Air. T. Alston Coleman) for having permitted nigs to feed on raw offal on December 23.; 1909. The circumstances were that Air. Burton, on 23rd December, went to Sutherland’s piggery, to inspect sonic diseased pigs, and there saw three- pigs feeding on a large amount of raw offal. Three other pigs also seemed to have been feeding from the offal. Air. Nolan asked that a heavy penalty should be inflicted, as strong warnings had been given to the defendant. On two occasions ho had received written warning, on the 27th August, 1908, and inf October last-. The Department’s officers had also repeatedly warned him against the offence, although this was"the first information that had been laid. The Department pressed for a heavy penalty, as the accused must have known ho was committing an offence, as other people in the •vicinity had been fined. Samuel Burton, Government Veterinarian, gave evidence that- lie visited Sutherland’s piggery on 23rd December, to inspect some pigs said to have tuberculosis. He then saw the offal of sheep lying about, and saw the raw legs of* sheep. There were 40 or 50 pigs in the vicinity, but only fourteen or fifteen about the offal. He had warned defendant in August, 1908, when pigs were feeding on offal. On that occasion he took Mr. Ross up. As defendant had only taken over the place, they gave him a written warning. To Air. Coleman: AAYien the. accused took over the place the fence was insufficient to keep the pigs out when the offal was boiled down. Defendant had the trouble remedied when warned. On 23rd December last the pigs seemed to be rooting about, having evidently had a good feed, but some of them were feeding. There were only runners that tho pigs were feeding on. The pigs wore very fond of these, but they were just -as bad in their effects as other offal, in fact, more so. AVitness knew that defendant made a practice of boiling down. To His AVorsliip: The disease found on the pigs had not been caused by the eating of offal. Air. Coleman said the facts were not disputed materially, only t-lic fact that they did not get written warning. Defendant made a practice of boiling down. On 23rd December defendant had occasion to ring up for Mr. Burton, as something was wrong with some of the pigs. Ho had to leave suddenly for town, having previously got a lot of offal ready for boiling down. Some was left over in the cart, and upon defendant being called away suddenly he threw down the runners that were in the cart. It was more an act of inadvertence than defiance of the Department’s order, as defendant know Air. Burton was on his way out. He submitted the occasion did not call for a heavy penalty, as it was eighteen months" since they had the verbal warning. Defendant did not receive the letters. His AVorsliip: AVell, I don’t know. It’s not- often letters go astray. Air Coleman, continuing, said tho disease on the- pigs had not been caused by'their eating the offal. His AVorsliip said that on the grounds of public health it was necessary that the Act should be. enforced. It was a bad case; "ns the defendant had been warred. He would not inflict tlic maximum penalty of £SO, but a fine- of £lO with costs £2 2s. His AA’orship adder! that if defendant committed any further offence of a like nature and was brought before him lie -would inflict a much heavier penalty. as it was very necessary to have the Act observed.