HUMANE KILLING

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 18

HUMANE KILLING

Modern Slaughtering* of Animals PRACTICE IN BRITAIN Some months ago when I was on a visit to New Zealand, writes Dr. Mary Blair, 23 Belgrave Road, London, under date September 9, you kindly allowed me space for a letter urging the claims of the animals of New Zealand to “Humane Methods of Slaughter.” In that, letter I offered to investigate the position in Great Britain, on my return, and to give information to anyone in New Zealand desiring it. I find tha: the movement for the adoption of humane slaughter, begun about thirty years ago, is still being vigorously carried on in this country. England has not yet passed a Bill to compel its adoption, but local authorities can, if they wish, adopt the model by-law of the Ministry of Health, and so make it compulsory for their slaughterhouses to have all animals stunned by a mechanical killer before bleeding them. This has been done in upwards of five hundred cases, by town councils. rural district councils, and urban district councils. In addition, through the efforts of the various societies working for this reform, many butchers, literally thousands, have voluntarily adapted the use of the humane killers. The R.S.P.C.A. has published a most convincing pamphlet, “The Verdict of Experience,” embodying the testimony of butchers who have regularly used the mechanical killer over a period of years. Their verdict is that the use of the killers saves a vast amount of needless suffering and is not detrimental to the meat or other products. One report states: “We find the humane killer most effective in every way, and would in no circumstances go back to the old methods." A large co-operative society’s official says: “The use of the killer undoubtedly renders the animal instantly unconscious and cuts out the acute suffering with convulsive struggles in the bleeding process. Our slaughterers agree that it is a quicker and easier method of dispatching the animals and enables them to speed up the work.” Another refers to the benefit felt by neighbouring dwellings in the entire absence of cries of pain. Scotland’s Example. Outside England, we find that Scotland has set a most striking example. In January, 1929, she passed a law making it compulsory to use mechanical killers in the slaughter of cattle, including calves. Later in the same year, she made it apply to the slaughter of sheep also. Now, in Scotland, all these animals are painlessly killed, except that a yearly license is given for the slaughter of animals for the use of people of the Jewish and Mohammedan faiths, but such slaughter is subject to rigid inspection. Crofters may also slaughter for their own use by the old methods. This wonderful advance was in part due to the efforts made by the slaughtermen themselves to get the new methods adopted. After the passing of the Act, inspectors went about the country and to outlying islands and taught the people, the correct use of the Instruments. Scotland has not suffered financially by her humane legislation. Thousands of her animals arc slaughtered by the methods, and in the London markets they fetch the highest prices, showing that there is no detriment to the quality of the meat. Though the law compelling humane slaughter has not yet been made applicable to pigs, It has been ascertained that To per cent, of the pigs slaughtered are dispatched by the voluntary use of the humane killers by the butchers. . Many Continental countries, such as Germany and Sweden, are most advanced in their methods of slaughtering animals. They have magnificent abattoirs in which every‘device that eliminates preliminary suffering Is installed and all killing is by humane killers. They are at present investigating electrical methods, but we already have the means of anaesthetising animals prior to killing—in these instruments. Stunning is the only known way to render such an animal unconscious. Such stunning must be instantaneous. When any reform or improvement is proposed, it always arouses strong opposition, even in a case like that of humane slaughtering, which is not now experimental, but has stood the test of many years of experience and every sort of scientific investigation and special inquiry. The necessity for reform is denied, and the old methods —i.e., poleaxing for cattle and sticking for calves, sheep and pigs, are defended. But. the poleaxe is uot certain. In the hands of a beginner or inexpert operator it may cause ghastly wounds. It is awful to think what is suffered while a beginner is learning his trade on the living animals. Mr. John Doods, superintendent, Carlisle Public Slaughterhouse. writes: “Even the most experienced butchers are liable to fail. I have seen three, four, five and even ten blows, levelled at an animal before it has been brought to the ground.” There are many such testimonies by experienced slaughtermen and expressions of opinion that the poleaxe is antiquated and obsolete, and that its use should be prohibited by law. At a special investigation by the City of London Corporation, it was found that 250 blows with the poleaxe were required to dispatch 100 bulls, whereas the mechanical killer accounted for 100 bulls with 100 shots. . . .

Doctors’ Petition. I aui much impressed by the fact that in 1022 in London, a petition was signed by 623 doctors, chiefly of consultant rank, to the L.C.C. to pass the model by-law. Their petition was successful and now all the slaughterhouses under the control of the London County Council slaughter their animals by humane methods. I am desirous of following in the footsteps of the leaders of my profession and doing what is in my power for this great cause. I have begun the formation of the Humane Slaughter Association of New Zealand, and am enrolling New Zealanders in this country. I suggest that all who feel that they wish to help should send me their names and addresses, the condition of membership, for the present, being help, either in gifts of money toward the campaign, or personal service in the way of propaganda—posting on leaflets, etc. When the society is fully constituted in New Zealand, I shall bo pleased, if they wish me to do so, to continue to act as correspondent in London. The Council of Justice to Animals and Humane Slaughter Association, here, has undertaken to give me all the help it can. Tn my opinion it is advisable to make the association a society apart from the S.P.C.A. (though we shall naturally have their help and the support of their members). This removes all ideas of accusations of cruelty and is more constructive. I shall hope for the help of the slaughtermen of Now Zealand, just as those of Scotland helped so magnificently with tho cause there, and were a factor in its successful issue.