THE ABATTOIRS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7826, 28 September 1903, Page 3

THE ABATTOIRS.

English Methods.

Mr J B Clarkson's Views

During hig recent visit to England Mr J. B. Clarkson was. more or less interested in the wholesale meat t.-ade, and paid visits of inspection to the abattoirs at Leeds and Birmingham. Bemarki made by Mr Clarkson to a representative of the Mantawatc Daily Times concerning these institutions may not prove uninteresting at the present juncture. At Leeds the abattoirs, Mr Clarkson said, are right in the heart of the town. This statement naturally gave rise to. the question as to how and when the driving was done, and Mr Clarkson replied: that all cattle have to be taken through the streets early in the morning or during the night. The building is only about 300 yards from the railway station, so cattle brought in by rail have only a very little distance to be driven. There is absolutely no paddocking attached, and therefore the butcher cannot keep a large number of •took on the place. But in the abattoirs are pens for each class of stock, and a butcher killed as-much as he required for one day, and fed the remainder or put.it in the cool chamber. The institution is constructed on what is termed the gravitation system. The animals are driven to the top oirthe building, where the pens are, and the carcases and offal go through the neces-' sary handling on their way down to the floor. For every department of the work there are separate men. There are no manure works in connection with the place and all offal is carted away in covered vans. Drainage of a, liquid nature is run into the sewer. Of course there are inspectors stationed at the works, but Mr Clarkson could not speak with certainty as to what was done with condemnad stock. He could Bay, however, that there was absolutely no nuisance connected with the place. The Birmingham abattoirs, erected near Small Heath, in one of the busiest streets in this very busy town, were constructed and conducted on practically the same lines as those at Leeds; and. in fact there was little more tq be aaid in regard to any other abattoirs visited, either in England or America. Mr Clarkson's private opinion on the matter of the Palmerston abattoirs is that they should be built as near to. the railway line as, possible, aqd that saleyards should he erected in conjunction, and fat stock sales held weekly. A OOQling room would enable the butchers to kill in one day sufficient for their • requirements and to store the remainder. The borough could own the yards if necessary. Speaking of tho Christchurch abattoirs at Sockburn, in which his uncle is indirectly interested, Mr Clarkson said he. understood arrangements are to he made for, one m,an to. contract for the labour pcirtion. Qf the works, and that man will D« responsible to the authorities.