HORRIBLE REVELATIONS.

Feilding Star, Issue 325, 24 July 1907, Page 3

HORRIBLE REVELATIONS.

A MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR. FILTHY SURROUNDINGS. [PBB PBBSS ASSOCIATION.] ■ Christchurch, July 23. A Press reporter who visited the municipal abattoirs at Sockburn today made some revolting discoveries. He found that the necks of carcases of beef awaiting delivery were hung within 3ft of the floor, and at the time of his visit a couple of dogs were roaming at will beneath these carcases actually brushing the necks of some of the larger bodies with their tails. Carcases are hung for purpose of cooling in the same apartment as that in whioh the actual killing is done. When the beast's throat is cut the blood gushes out upon a concrete floor, but owing to the arrangements the blood cannot get away, and consequently congeals into a fearsome looking mass. This substance lay nearly an inch deep on the floor at the time of the reporter's inspection, and as one unfortunate creature crashed out of the pithing pen on to the floor its kicks and struggles sent showers of congealed horror in all directions, spattering even a carcase hung up in the last stages of dressing. The men have to slush through the patches and pools of blood in pursuit of their duties, much of it naturally getting upon their hands, and from thence to the newly-skinned carcases upon which tbey are operating. Outside the pens and race for both cattle and sheep appeared to be inconvenient. In regard to the latter, there seemed to be great difficulty in getting the sheep up the inclined plane to the slaughtering floor. Most of the pens are paved with concrete, and are either flat or else have a fall from the centre that is imperceptible. The sheep awaiting slaughter naturally are thus confined for some considerable time, and those seen yesterday were in a pitiable plight. The flooring of the pens was covered to the depth of over half an inch with liquid filth, in which most of the sheep had lain. There are surface drains in plenty surrounding the pens, but the filth somehow doee not seem to escape into them. Yesterday these gutters were standing half full of dark t evil-looking liquid in a stagnant condition. Want of fresh water-Hosing was apparent everywhere. It was manifestly impossible for the men to dress in a thoroughly cleanly and wholesome condition when the sheep they had to handle were bedaubed with such filth as was to be seen. Most of the cattle-pens were paved with concrete, but here again useless gutters were in evidence, and a superabundance of filth upon the flooring. The paved pens were absolute cleanliness itself compared with the almost indescribable condition of the unpaved cattle-pens. In these cattle were seen standing over their hoofs and nearly ap to their hocks in -manure and j urine, churned up into a festering • morass repulsive enough to turn the strongest stomach. When the unfortunate creatures are wild, or are sought to be driven up the raoe, they surge and plunge through tiie hideous quagmire, carrying masses of the filth into the slaughtering department. The chairman of the City Council Abattoirs Committee (Councillor W. H. Cooper) explained that extensive repairs (including concrete flooring) to the different pens and races were !ti. fconteiriptAtion by the Council, Which, when effected, would dissipate most of the present grounds for complaint. The other shortcomings, he further explained, might also be overcome without serious difficulty.