DAMAGED SHEEPSKINS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9522, 15 September 1896, Page 3

DAMAGED SHEEPSKINS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—-I have just read the letter sent by the London Chamber of Commerce to Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, re damaged sheepskins. , Now, sir, to my mind, this simply means, Directors, Managers, foremen, butchers, labourers and lads have been neglecting their duty to the tune of £156,455 103. 6d every year. It is false. It must have surprised Mr Waymouth, for to my knowledge for some years past butchers at Belfast have had a limit as to the number of sheep per hour. Again, tlie majority of the butchers are old hands, and, of course, nave had a deal of practice. Every two of them bave to put their skins -through a hole in the floor, where they are carefully examined by a number of men below, by men who know if they neglect their duty dismis.al is sure. Therefore, every skin at Belfast tells its own tale. Those all right pa3B, those cut are shown to- the foreman, who inflicts a 3d .or 6d fine according to the amount of damage. The butcher is paid less than 2£d for every sheep he kills. . Therefore it is unlikely that he will be careless with his work, because he. knows he will have to do his work for nothing if done badly. Then, again, a great number of the Belfast skins are locally sold. If so, would not our local buyers long ago hare made a complaint! Why did the London man say «■ Australasian skins ?" Why didn't he go to the trouble to find out whioh colony the -

cut skins came from ? Doen he know New Zealand is a different plxcic to Australia? I hope ho will soon find out, and blamo tho right persons. Over in Australia the rulo is, "Go as you picas. ; do as many as you can, and go home." '* Rip and tear " among leg of mutton sheep ami potters ia all the go. _t is to bo hoped that the Chamber of Commerce here will obtain information re the killing of •■ old crocks," which is done at the rate of about twenty per hour (at Belfast tho limit for freezers is eight). No doubt these arc the skins which havo been cut. It is to bo Imped that the London Chamber of Commerce will scud the consignor.* or exporter's name, a copy of the brand on the bile, and tlie name of tho . tcamor by which they were taken Homo. Then we shall be able to find out tho guilty party. —Yours, Ac, North Cantebbcry. St. Alban., September 14th.