EL—29

14

The following table indicates the destination of the dressed carcases, those animals slaughtered at abattoirs being principally for local consumption, and those slaughtered at meat-export slaughterhouses being (except in the case of swine) principally for export :• — i, i, ... At Meat-export At Bacon At Ahattoirs. „, , . r , . Slaughterhouses. lactones. Cattle ... ... ... ... 85,432 243,276 Calves ... ... ... ... 14,247 5,149 Sheep ... ... ... ... 524,999 2,816,911 Lambs ... ... ... ... 66,532 3,345,089 Swine ... ... ... 45,107 28,848 79,489 At ordinary slaughterhouses the stock killed was as follows: Cattle. 56,421; calves, 1,210; sheep, 259,374;' lambs, 20,322; swine, 14,425. In addition to the above, 34,965 carcases of pigs were killed and dressed by farmers under the exemption clause of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, and the dressed carcases were inspected in butchers' shops and small bacon-factories. All meat sold in butchers' shops for human consumption within the Dominion is slaughtered and dressed in licensed slaughterhouses only. No premises are licensed which do not conform to the requirements of the Act and regulations thereunder. Even in the most remote parts of the country cleanliness and sanitation are enforced in the local slaughterhouses, while inspections are made at frequent intervals. Inspection of City and Town Milk-supplies. The milk-supply of cities and towns in the Dominion is wholly derived from registered dairies conforming to the requirements of the Dairy Industry Act, all of which are under inspection by a trained staff, who, in addition to their regular inspections of dairy cows and dairy premises, procure and submit milk-samples for bacteriological examination, and also apply the tuberculin test to any animals suspected of showing suspicious indications of tuberculosis. Cows which are clinically diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis, no matter whether the udder is involved or not, are at once condemned and destroyed. The Veterinary Laboratory. The various operations carried out at the Wallaceville Laboratory have been continued, though on account of the depletion of the staff brought about by enlistments no new investigation work has been undertaken, the energies of the remaining staff having been directed to the current work necessary for controlling and reducing disease conditions among the live-stock of the Dominion. Included in this was the examination of a number of samples of milk taken from herds supplying cities and towns, these examinations being undertaken principally from the point of view of determining whether any tubercular infection was present in the milk. It is very satisfactory to note that the results have been invariably good from this point of view, thus indicating that the work of the outside inspection staff continues to be carried out effectively and thoroughly in the matter of keeping these dairy herds clear of those forms of tubercular disease which are liable to cause the milk-yield to become contaminated. Work on the Laboratory farm has been carried on satisfactorily, and, considering the fact that the farm has been largely utilized as a hospital for sick or injured horses belonging to the Defence Department, and also for accommodating experimental animals, the results of the year's operations have been financially successful. Quarantine Stations. Notwithstanding increased freights and shortage of shipping facilities, importations of stud animals have been well maintained. A commodious new building containing loose-boxes for ten head of cattle, together with a feed-room, has been erected at Somes Island, while the new raincatchment water-supply system is about completed at Quail Island, all efforts to obtain a watersupply from other sources having failed. Much good work towards improving the condition of the land for stock-carrying purposes has been carried out at Motuihi Island. Interned enemy aliens and prisoners of war are still quartered at Motuihi and Somes Islands, and, when practicable, the services of some of them have been utilized for farm-work, roadmaking, and other permanent improvements. Importation of Animal-manures. The arrangements in connection with the inspection of manure-sterilizing in both the Australian Commonwealth and India continue to be satisfactory. Supplies from Australia have decreased nearly 50 per cent. This is mainly due to inability to obtain freight for the material treated under supervision. In the case of India importers have been more fortunate in obtaining shipping-space, and the imports have in consequence increased—much in excess of the shortage from Australia. Sheep-dippino. Although the great majority of sheepowners dip thoroughly and effectively, there is still considerable laxity by a small percentage of owners in some districts. As a result, however, of the continued advice which has been given by the Department, and the pressure which has been brought to bear upon those exposing undipped sheep for sale, a steady improvement is apparent, and will no doubt be maintained. By careful mustering and strict compliance with the manufacturers' instructions accompanying the dipping-material there should be little difficulty in keeping the flocks clean.