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1898. NEW ZEALAND.

JOINT AGRICULTURAL, PASTORAL, AND STOCK COMMITTEE. REPORT ON THE SLAUGHTERING AND INSPECTION BILL, TOGETHER WITH THE EVIDENCE THEREON AND APPENDICES.

Beport brought up on 18th October, 1898, and ordered to be printed on 28th October, together with the evidence.

Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. FBiDAy, the 2nd Day of September, 1898. Ordered, " That the Slaughtering and Inspection Bill be referred to the Joint Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee."—(Hon. Mr. J. McKenzie.)

EEPOET. The Joint Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee, to whom the above-mentioned Bill was referred for consideration, have the honour to report that they have duly considered the same, and recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments as set forth on the annexed copy of the Bill. C. Johnston, 18th October, 1898. Chairman.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. Thursday, 29th September, 1898. —(Hon. J. D. Ormond in the Chair.) John Edward Hanson, of Canterbury, butcher, stated that he was there to represent the butchers of Christchurch and Lyttelton, and also the Christchuroh City Council. We have gone through the clauses of the Bill, and a few of them that have affected us we have discussed. But I must say I am put in a rather awkward position, because Mr. Forrester, who was our last year's delegate, will be unable to get here for a few hours longer, as his vessel has not arrived; therefore I feel I have rather a big burden this morning. I will do the best I can, however, and make my statement as concise as possible. The first clause that we have to find fault with is clause 3, subclause (2). But before that I must present to you this petition from the butchers of Christchurch City, and also from the Selwyn County Council districts, all of whom would be affected by the Act as it is now made out. [The witness here read and put in the petition in question, Exhibit A.] I feel that this clause 3, subclause (2) has not had the consideration and thought that it ought to have had. We are here to-day from all parts of New Zealand, in accordance with what has been brought before the House, to obtain pure, well-bred, clean meat for the people. We have accepted the fact that the voice of the people is so strong now, and so urgent on the members of the House, that they are ready to make a step in the direction of giving the country public abattoirs. We do not object to the abattoirs, and we feel, in fact, that they have come to stay, and will do good in the long-run. But there are some clauses in the Act which may make it rather peculiar if we have to prepare meat under the inspection of a veterinary surgeon. We shall have all meat slaughtered in public slaughter-yards, or, rather, abattoirs, for public consumption. But this clause, you will notice, gives a farmer the right to kill, in round figures, one bullock, weighing 8001b.—we have put it at that as being a fair average ; and he is allowed to kill five sheep also, weighing on an average 60 lb, I—l. Bb.