INSPECTION OF STOCK.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 972, 12 November 1910, Page 10

INSPECTION OF STOCK.

Sir, —Tho Minister for Agriculture's reply to my letter with reference to tuberculosis in pigs calls for some comments. In the iirst place, let mo say that I have never spoken one word against tho Department. Mr. Reakes and his 1 staff are deserving of the highest praise for the" manner in which .t*iey_are carrying. out their duties, especially when tho circumstances are fully understood. My contentions are not with tho Department, but witt tho Government for, not making' regulations that the Department can enforoe; . ; Mr. Mackenzie's reply is nothing loss than "hedging," and .-proves. conclusively that the Government are "tinkering" with the whole question. It is immaterial whether the bacon factory I referred to did away with Government inspection during Mr. Mackenzie's term of office,ior his predecessors'. The present Minister admits they were clone away with, but adds: "But they had ceased their export business." Almost in the next breath he says the regulations are the same in New Zealand, England, and Australia. If it were, so, it would be compulsory to have tho meat inspected for local as well as export use. The one statement is a flat contradiction of the other.

Wliilo on the question of bacon factories, I deem it my duty to tho publip to give the following figures, as nearly every means have been nsed to force tho Government to take action, but without success.' That great power "public opinion" must now get to work. I There aro some 30 bacon factories in this Dominion, and only four aro under total inspection. At tho present time thoofficial returns,fqr..pigs.killed in Wellington is 10 per cent, of "condemns." . On this basis it means that out of overy 20 sides of bacon in Wellington, .0110 side is Jiablo tot be diseased.. Of course the pigs that are'condemned do not go into consumption, but as only four factories are inspecting, it is safe to assume that those who are npt inspecting and are sending to this market would have the same percentage if they wore compelled to have inspection. . If,the. Minister js sincere in. his statement, that tho Goverpment is giving this matter every-. attention, why is the- Jaw - still tho same with reference to tho slaughter of pigs? < A farmer can send up to fivo pigs a week, killed on his place, and not inspected, but cattle and sheep, have: to ,bo inspected; before they can be sold for 'human consumption. And it is a well Jtnown fact that swine contract disease more readily than other pnimals, the figures- being frpm 5 per cent to 10 per : cent, more than cattle or sheep. The; Government's sincerity is truly touching, A certain' bacon factory had 900 pigs condemned in six months at a loss to themselves of nearly. £1400. The company were not compelled to loose this money because they could have sold the pigs ip the - Dominion, and thus saved this' Jiugo sum. But what about the public? 'The company studied them, and were penalised to-the extent of £1400 by a Government that is" giving a great amount pf caro and attention to tho question, Is it reasonable to expect the company to '/continue'. this ? Certainly hot;, and the pubjic will have tl)o sati?faction (?) one day of finding that they, top, have given the inspectors the • go-by, and 110110 of the pigs will bo inspetccd, There is a factory in a district where the results havo been 75 per cent, condemned, and that factory is not under inspection, and the bacon (s coming to Wellington. DoeG tho Minister' expect us to sit still any lengor and see this sprt of 'thing going on, without raising our voice in protest? Only the other day a lino pf 30 pigs from this district wore killed,'snd 23 condemned. What I want to know is, where is tho Pure Foods Aot? If. our butter contains over 16 per cent, of lyater, the Department will prosecute us for "swindling the public," . but diseased pork can bo solrl galore. Tuberculosis is nothing ' rqjnpircd to water. Just about tho same comparison as there is between what the Government says they are doing and ivhat they do. 1 could go 011 and'shon- how inconsistent the Minister, and how unreliable his remarks are but. surely I have said enough. Olio word for Mr. Ross. I am-glad he is satisfied, because "where iglioranco is bliss, etc." However, Mr. Ross reminds mo of a gentleman in t])e honourable gentleman's own electorate, who grows pigs. Quo day a buyer a]png, and offered to buy the line, "seller to stand the risk of "condemns." This lie refused to do. A whilo later 110 purchased, ( i ,side pf bacon from the'same man,, but stipulated "that tho Government Inspector's brand" was to bo on it: Inconsistency must be catching.—l , am, etc., H. G. HILL.