ILLEGAL SALE OF MEAT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20214, 17 April 1931, Page 14

ILLEGAL SALE OF MEAT.

ABUSES CHECKED. ANSWER TO BUTCHERS' -COMPLAINTS. Complaints that meat was being sold illegally by farmers and hawker# were met, at'last evening's meeting of • the Canterbury Butchers' Industrial Utoion of Employers, with an assurance that the Departments of Labour, Health, and Agriculture ; and the Ohristchurch, ,City Council were making every effort to stamp out any such abuses of the Slaughtering Act. - Letters on the question were , read from the unions or associations at Wairarapa, Hamilton, Wanganui, Punedin, and Auckland. The Director-General of Agriculture (Dr. C. J. Beakes) advised that the action of farmers in killing and distributing- stock was being watched closely, and that in some cases l eff al proceedings were being taken. The chairman (Mr F. Kerr): Every one of you is vitally touched ,on this question. You've, heard letters from the different centres, and they re all with us. Some of them are taking action, but there's a tremendous lot of unscrupulous work poing on in the hawking of meat which is' not inspected, as ours has to be.

Department's Efforts. The secretary of the Canterbury Employers' Association (Mr D. I. Macdonald) explained that he had had visits from the Medical Officer of Health (Dr., T. Fletcher Telford) and from a representative of the Department of Agriculture. Regarding the allegation that meat was coming into the City area from farmers, the Department had tracked down two or three cases of this breach and was anxious that members should send details of any others. Until they , were given those special instances they assured him that %y were doing everything they could .to see the Sla^tf' htering Act carried out. The Act allowed a farmer to kill up to five * week for distribution, but stipulated that the distribution must not be .carried out within three miles of a local authority or abattoir area and that he must keep a record of every carcase 80 "The Department has a lot of Jo°P* holes to catch these men on," he added. "It has already caught some, and X think this will check the practice" On the question of hawking, he pointed out that hawkers had to be licensed and that they could sell only during the hours when butchers could sell. Their hours . operated within a radius of • 10 miles of the post office. The only area compelled to observe tne Saturday half-holiday was the Clmstchurch municipal area, whioh did not include Sumner, New Brighton, tottelton, or Halswell. Men in these districts did not have to obsorve the Saturday half -holiday, but could choose whichever halfrday they wanted to. Consequently a hawker, might be a»lo to have a -cart out xm a Saturday afternoon in one of these areas.

labour Department's Help. "The liabour Department is .doing its best to check any abuses," continued Mr Macdonald. "It has not a large staff,* and you must- remember that this Association has complained, of too many inspectors. - You can't have it both Ways. I have had the assurances of Dr. Telford, the Department of Agriculture, the- Health Pepanment. and the Council that the-law Will ministered." He urged that any definite complaints should, be notified." . Mr J. C. Bradley said that the question was a big one. hurting butchers throughout the Dominion.'; Bethought 1 that the local" authority shouldcproteet the butchers, IMIO were its .rajwpajers, and not give hawkers "It is time we , put ow and had' something,.done ; 7 Aboit* ';this illegal seijifig. of meatA3id;Wg*d;, Mr Vl, Meakin, thottght itm* toe that 'the - . AsWfiations New Zealand tdok'iteps to law amended i» order to[ get a Dominion>wide standatflrfor butchers' shops. J. 'Skfllton pointed out "that the agitation throughout New Zealand sfirtred,the of the f . Canterbury Association's efforts. ... ■ The,question was, not taken fnrther.

given away to a friend -by her owner after the Biveirton Meeting. The hurdler Overhaul is to be taken up again next - week. He has had very long spell and, %e : in* . ientionrof his. ownew ;i to, Confine huh \to hurdle dicing in- the future. ■ Last season an attempt was made to school him over big and in doing >so he got badly; burl. •* ' . This morning the centre .of the? course proper waß .open foi; ;£apt work,t but -an unusually dense fog' delayed, 1 the cOuj- ' mencement. of opeiatipnis i ' un|if' lfte. There was not mucli fasi gallopiag, ind, the Wingatui contingentj'for next weflk promises to )JS'mi<(stelighter than usual. f 1 * - Red the last, five furlongs of : a circuit iri/iiflin 10 2-ssec. He looks none the worse for his efforts at the Qeaumqut fixture, and will' be a: starter at Timaru. ! V \;f Tippling antl Bose Dart'finished ttfgether over half a mile on the inside [ grass, track .in 08seo> ,tho.-latter moving very well, and her race at Biverton evidently sharpened her up. - " High Court, 'heavily bandaged in front, and Hot, Tea took 54 l-ssec to run .half a mile on the course proper. Hoi. Tea went the better, and on a,firm track next, week will be one. of the most likely winners from- this quarter. Black Duke "and Bin Tin/Tin took 53 1-Ssec to run a half-mile on .the samo track. Bin 'Tin - Tin naturally, looks tucked up still after his Experience at Biverton, but his trainer says that he > is doing well again now, and . all going ■ well 'in. the 'meantime,' will give him a start at Timaru next week. . Black 1 Duke, will also make the trip. ■ Caferpillar, tod, is now on the mend, "and if she continues to show improvement her.trainer- will let her resume light -wprk i next \week, with a view to building heir up again. > Francolin, the third of the doped brigade'.at Biverton, is, still enjoying' a run in.the paddock, and is also making a good recovery now. . * Kapuna wa? • brought back- fromBiverton, and is working, nicely at Wingatui. This horse did bo Well on the Biverton tracks prior to' that meeting that, his trainer thought, of leaving him down there, but changed his mind j at the last moment. - ] Captain's- Gift jumped tho pony j hurdTe at the top of the 'straight" w.ejl, | and looks like making a fair sort of I

jumper. ' < • Good Gift is also to be schooled,,and as this horse stays well and has a fair turn of pace he, too, should make a useful hurdler. The alterations to the stewards' stand, which when completed will provide accommodation for the -members alsp, are now nearing 'completion, and ' will be ready for the, June .meeting. ■