CARELESS HANDLING OF MEAT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7630, 23 January 1903, Page 2

CARELESS HANDLING OF MEAT.

The system adopted by some bacon concerns of receiving carcases for curing, instead of killing them at tlie curing establishment, has created an evil which in the present stage is a menace to the public health and a danger to the colony's meat trade. We refer to the manner in which the carcases are handled during transit on the railways. Frequently on the platform of the Palmerston station may be seen dressed carcases of porkers thrown about on the platform, trucks, and vans, in a most caveless fashion. Even if the carcases were handled with ordinary care, they should be protected by a cloth covering, as when left exposed they are liable to collect, especially on a railway platform, all degrees of filth and dust, which of itself though probably harmless, is, so we are informed by a health officer, the chief medium of contamination of meat by the conveyance of the germs of rapidlydisseminated tuberculosis and similar diseases. Apart from the menace to health of colonial consumers, the manner in which these carcases are handled is a poor advertisement for the meat trade of the colony. Visitors from Home will certainly have a very poor opinion of the meat inspection of the Government when fchey see such want of care exhibited, and with the rapidly-increasing tourist traffic the matter demands urgent attention. We rather pride ourselves in this colony on our progressive ideas, but in conservative old England such a method of handling meat would be out of the question— the meat would be at once condemned —and England has no foreign meat trade to cater to. We have. The case quoted is an evidence of the lax manner in which, the Government is at present carrying out the work of meat inspection.

An interesting budget of general news appears on our fourth page to-day. The revised time table of Messrs Hatrick and Co.'s Wanganui river steamers appears in another column. A company parade of the Palmerston Guards will be held to night. The officers request a good muster. Mr W. H. Beetham, of Masterton, has gone to Hawkes Bay to value tho Millbum Estate on behalf of the Government. The plan of seats for Mr Wesley Woolhouse's concert may be seen at Mr Park's on Saturday morning. A telegram from South last night stated that the " Greater Christchurch. " proposal had been carried at the polls. ' The Westport waterworks, which have cost about £20,000 were officially opened yesterday. The Caledonian Wheel Kace, the principal event at the championship meeting of the Wanganui Caledonian Society yesterday, was won by a Palmerston wheelman, Mr Biunettc, the local salesman of the Massey-Harris wheel. Great public interest is being manifested in tbe Band Contest which is to be held at Masterton in the first week February. The programme in connection with the Contest appears in another column. At the Cheltenham Rifle Association's meeting yesterday Mr W. Eandell, of Palmerston, won the champion belt and gold medal with an aggregate of 145. Mr Morton, of the Kimbolton Rifle Club, was second with a score of 144, The Licensed Victuallers of Christchurch. at a largely attended meeting on Tuesday, resolved that every member of the trade should stricily carry out the licensing laws, and that to avoid any possibility of illegal Sunday trading in future tho botelkeepers of Christchurch and Lytlelton would dtclino to serve any travellers with drink. The newly organised representative band is to assemble in Wellington next month for four weeks' practice before going Home. The practices will be conducted by Lieutenant Herd, but there will be no luck of assistant conductors in the party, as there aro five band-masters included amongst the bandsmen. Although <tke management has been offered the use of several sets of new instruments by Home manufacturer ', it is probable that the hind, will go on tour with the instruments whic a they will take from the Colony. The grounds of theC liege-street ExPupils Association's Tennis and Croquet Club were opened yesterday af termorl. They are beautifully situated in a quiet hook of Mr Park's properly, and there is now a convenient entrance from C liege street by the small gate exactly opposite Mr Keeling's house, Mr Pirani, the patron of the Association, was present, as were also Mr Vercon president, and Mr Priberg, vicc-presi- , dent. Dainty afternoon tea was dispensed by the Mi-ses M. Park and N. Nannestead, and all pre cnt had a most enjoyable lime. The Association is to he cougratulattd upon its enterprise in thus catering for the healthy enjoyment of its members, and no doubt many a pleasant afternoon w.'ll be spent upon its courts.