MR GILRUTH INTERVIEWED.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 133, 8 June 1906, Page 3

MR GILRUTH INTERVIEWED.

Mr W.J J: Garrett, President of the Wellington Master Butchers' Association, was waited upon by a Post reporter yesterday, and asked if he had anything to say about the position of ,±hose butchers who killed at private slaughter-houses. Mr Garrett said a meeting of the master butchers had been called to consider the effect recent allegations would have on their business, and under, the. circumstances he •would prefer to say nothing officially. Personally, he could say that the butchers would welcome rigid Government inspection of stock killed at their premises, and, further, would welcome the establishment of an abattoir. It was all very well to say that the priva,te slaughter-houses were old; but every butcher could not be expected to put up a small abattoir on his own account, and perhaps three months afterwards find that the City Council had decided to build an abattoir, where he would be compelled to kill his meat. If the City Council did not intend to take any steps in the direction indicated, and if it would-.be given some assurance that they woulof be given some security of tenure if they rebuilt, work on new premises would be commenced by many to-morrow. The Post's Dunedin correspondent wired yesterday:— Mr Gilruth describes Mr Moore's charges as utterly reckless, but says he is inclined to ask for an enquiry concerning the allegations made. The charge against inspectors of accepting bribes to pass diseased cattle he indignantly declares is absolutely without foundation. No instance has occurred of Mr Gilruth's condemning a carcase which .the inspector had passed as sound.

With regard to Mr Moore's allegation that unborn calves had been used as human food, the regulations prescribed that no calf under six weeks old and 601b in weight shall be used, and cows within two months of calving are condemned.

The inspection of meat in New Zealand was the strictest in any part of the world, and he is certain there is no evasion.

Mr Gilruth has repeatedly called attention to the refusal of the Wellington Corporation to erect abattoirs, which leaves uninspected meat to be largely sold in Wellington, but the bulk of the meat supply comes from two large freezing . works, where slaughtering is done under proper conditions and Government inspection. Mr Gilruth's opinion is that the inspectors, value their reputation too highly to permit anything doubtful to go into consumption—even sausages — and he has known meat condemned that was perfectly wholesome, but which for some cause apart altogether from disease was unsightly or did not meet with approval. With regard to the allegation that fat off skins and hides was being prepared for biscuit-making, Mr Gilruth does not know of such a practice, but even were it indulged in, the fat, being melted at a high temperature and refined, would be free from disease and quite wholesome.