SLAUGHTERING ACT

Evening Star, Issue 20312, 22 October 1929, Page 13

SLAUGHTERING ACT

LOCAL ABATTOIR QUESTION {From Ou* Fakliamextxet Reporter.! WELLINGTON, October 21. Though mainly a consolidating measure, there are some amendments to the Slaughtering and Meat Inspection Act, a measure introduced by Governor’s Message in the House to-night. Mr Forbes (Minister of Agriculture) stated that the Bill would make the law clear regarding the abattoir fees payable by freezing companies in respect to locally sold meat, as there had been difficulty with some local bodies over the matter. Replying to a question regarding private abattoirs, where pigs were killed subject to subsequent inspection where displayed for sale, the Minister stated that nothing in the Bill would do away with that right. In addition to the clauses of the original Act providing for .the fees charged by the controlling authority of a public abattoir in respect of locally sold meat killed at a meat export slaughterhouse, the Bill provides that, if stock owners consider these fees excessive, and returning an undue profit on a public abattoir, ihey may appeal for a reduction; and if no agreement is reached may appeal to the Minister of Agriculture, who has power to conduct an investigation, and, if necessary, direct the controlling authority to make a new by-law amending its'scale of charges. The Minister may draw up a scale of charges if the controlling authority fails to do so. The local authority is given power to delegate its right to establish an abattoir on terms approved by the Minister, and local authorities may combine for such a purpose. Provision is also contained in the Bill for including contiguous districts in an abattoir district. The former law regarding meat export slaughtering licenses is maintained, including power to refuse a license if the Minister considers that it has been qsed in a manner contrary to public interest. - The Bill was formally read a second time, and referred to the Stock Committee to take evidence.