INVESTIGATIONS BY THE POST.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 132, 7 June 1906, Page 3

INVESTIGATIONS BY THE POST.

PROCEDURE AT THE LARGE , WORKS. MUNICIPAL ABATTOIRS URGED. "A LIBEL ON THE MEAT COMPANIES." WELLINGTON, June 6. With'reference to the attacks on the meat supply of the city, Post representatives made investigations to-day, and the paper says that altogether sufficient information was gathered to assure the city that though the two large meat companies cannot be reproached for any laxity, smaller concerns are not without faults, which point to the need of a public abattoir. At the Gear meat works everything •was scrupulously clean, and the system ot inspection appeared to be complete. A couple of officers are employed, and no meat can be exported or sent out for local consumption without bearing the Government tag or brand. To defeat the inspector -would involve an intricate process of deception, which would seem to be quite impracticable in the face of the good reputation of the company. The same conditions prevail at the Wellington Meat Export Company's works, and* Government inspection is rigid. An examination of private slaughter-houses goes to prove that municipal abattoirs would be of advantage, as they would secure better inspection of meat by Government officials. Then as to the stamping of meat, it is pointed out that this merely indicates that the meat was killed at a licensed slaughterhouse, but is no guarantee that the beast was not diseased before being killed. Mr Reakes, Assistant Chief Veterinary Surgeon for the Government, replying to Mr Moore's charges of corruption in connection with the inspection of meat, says "these are very serious statements, and, so far as my knowledge goes, they are absolutely untrue. If any officer of the Depart-

lv.ent engaged in tlie inspection of meat were known to accept a bribe lor passing for human consumption, either within or without the Colony, moat which should be condemned, he would bo instantly dismissed from tlie service. Naturally, the officers implicated by these assertions will now ask that' steps be taken to ascertain whether there is any ground for them, but L have every confidence in the probity of the inspectoral staff, and feel certain that Mr Moore is either misinformed or is labouring under a delusion. Moreover, it seems to me a .direct libel on the meat companies to assert that they would be guilty of offering bribes for such a purpose. My experience of these companies.is that they have every desire to insure that only healthy meat shall be supplied to the public, both here and abroad. Mr Moore further states that the salaries of the inspectors are paid-by the companies. This is totally ..untrue. The salaries of all me*it inspectors are paid by the Government from the Consolidated Fund, and are duly shown on the Estimates of the Department of Agriculture in the same way as the controlling authorities of city or borough abattoirs show theirs. The companie:simply pay inspection fees to the Gbv-^ ernment -as provided by regulation* under the Slaughtering and Inspection Act,"

Messrs Milhvaid and Sladden, respective1 secretaries of the Gear Meat and Wellington Meat Export Companies, support Mr Ileakes in stating that Mr Moore's allegations are absurd, and they solicit the closest inspection of their factories by the Government or the public. The inspection, they say, by Government inspectors is a very thorough one. A return of stock condemned during the six months from December to May inclusive, prepared in the office of the ,Gear Meat Company, shows that condemnations (for all causes) were in the following proportions:—Cows 0.G7 per cent., oxen. 1.10 per cent., sheep .0045 per. cent, lambs .0072 per cent.-" At the Wellington Meat Company's works condemnations for the last five months averaged, as follows: —Oxen .9 per cent., cows about 4 per cent.