H.—29

The following table indicates the respective class of premises at which these animals were slaughtered : —

Stock slaughtered at ordinary slaughterhouses during the year ended 31st March, 1928, was as follows :— Cattle .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 81,076 Calves .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,993 Sheep .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 238,378 Lambs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25,211 Swine .. .. . . . . . . . . . 24,834 In addition to the stock slaughtered at meat-export slaughterhouses, abattoirs, and ordinary slaughterhouses, 42,625 carcases of pork killed and dressed by farmers and sent into butchers' shops were examined by departmental officers. In connection with animals shown in the table as slaughtered at meat-export slaughterhouses, the following numbers of the respective classes are returned as having gone into consumption within the Dominion : — Cattle .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 45,644 Calves .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,269 Sheep .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 158,757 Lambs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 64,571 Swine .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28,145 Compensation paid for Stock and Meat condemned. Compensation to the amount of £15,449 15s. 6d. was paid out during the year for 5,811 animals condemned in the field for diseases under the Stock Act, and £15,627 3s. 2d. for carcases or parts of carcases condemned for disease on examination at time of slaughter at abattoirs and meat-export slaughterhouses, &c., under the provisions of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act. Importation of Stud Stock from Abroad. The embargo on cattle, sheep, and swine from Great Britain owing to the presence of foot-and-mouth disease has had to be continued during the year, and, unfortunately, outbreaks of the disease are still being reported. With a view to facilitating the export of stud stock from Great Britain, the establishment of quanrantine stations has been undertaken by the Empire Marketing Board, and it was anticipated that the facilities thus provided would be taken advantage of by importing countries, and the export of stud stock from Great Britain revived. This is a matter which requires to be given careful consideration before we agree to remove our present absolute prohibition. During the year regulations were gazetted permitting the introduction of cattle from the United States of America, and of swine from Canada. The prohibition on swine and cattle from Australia still operates. The following is a summary of the various classes of animals which have entered into quarantine during the year : Horses, 2 ; cattle, 3 ; swine, 40 ; dogs, 68. Exportation of Stud Stock. The export of stud stock from New Zealand still shows some promise of growing. The following are the particulars of stud stock exported during the year : Sheep, 6,287 ; cattle, 184 ; horses (draught), 13. In addition, a number of trotting and thoroughbred horses were shipped to Australia, principally for racing purposes. Destruction of the Kea. The subsidy of ss. per beak paid for the destruction of the kea totalled £763 55., equal to 3,053 birds. Inspection of Dairy Premises supplying Milk for Direct Consumption. This work has been carried on satisfactorily during the year, and no untoward circumstance has eventuated requiring special mention. It is to the credit of the Dairy Inspectors that in recent years there has been a general improvement in the condition and cleanliness in which this most important food product reaches the consumer, and I feel sure that the energy displayed by our Inspectors will enable them to maintain the position, and even improve upon it. To do this, however, the strictest attention to duty is necessary. The Inspector must see that the sheds and surroundings are kept in a sanitary condition, that the hands of the milker, udders of the cows, milking-machines, and all utensils used in connection with dairying are kept scrupulously clean, if the milk is to stand up to the

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I Stock - Abattoirs. Bacon-factories. Cattle .. .. .. .. .. 160,781 220,831 Calves .. .. .. .. .. 41,272 120,015 Sheep .. .. .. .. .. 64-1,907 2,300,069 Lambs .. .. .. .. .. 130,905 5,776,321 Swine .. .. .. .. .. 121,763 259,114 49,686