More Unsavoury Stories.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 44, 12 June 1906, Page 5

More Unsavoury Stories.

Rust, Rats, Slime and “Fleshings.” J Dropping into a butcher’s shop bn [Thursday, a “Post” reporter heard [from the manager a strange story implicating certain restaurants and boaiding [houses. Some outside slaughtermen, injcluding small squatters, he alleged, were [in the habit of killing stock and sending |iu the meat to Wellington early in the [morning. The meat was in bags, and [was taken round to the backs of restaurjants and boardinghouses, which bought Jit cheap. He had recently seen one of [these bags going round to the back of a mouse, and he declared that the Corporation's chief sanitary inspector had given [a couple of cautions to these purveyors [of meat. This declaration was brought [ruder the notice of the City Council’s [chief sanitary inspector, who said that [though he had not recently noticed the [practice mentioned he did not doubt that [meat was brought to town in the way [described.

Dr. Makgill, district health officer, also said he believed that this traffic existed, Apparently the “small squatters” arc [entitled to slaughter to a limited [extent, [and sell meat in the city. The Council [had a bylaw prohibiting the sale oi [diseased meat, and other bad food, bul

inder the present system it would seem lifficult to exercise a check on these small

Over ten years ago a report by the Corporation sanitary inspector forcibly drew attention to Wellington’s meat supply, disclosing the pressing need of improve rnent. “ Horrors ”in plenty were then

revealed, and the stir was sufficient to bring in a measure of inspection, but the reform still remains to bo completed. | A correspondent whoso veracity, ac-j cording to the “ Post,” cannot be doubted, makes somewhat unpleasant disclosures. “Some few years ago,” he says,” I spent several days in a local slaughterhouse which still exists. Izi nection with the business was a large tank, into which was led a steampipe for boiling water. The tank had evidently not been used for some time, as the bottom was thick with rust and slime. During my visit I saw the tank half filled with water, which, owing to the dirt, was of the consistency of hematite paint, and into this mixture was emptied four dirty sacks of “fleshings.” These are pieces of fat which adhere to skins, and are collected, I understand, from the fellmongers. As the witches’ cauldron was being prepared a large rat, covered with meat sores, ran along a beam, and by a lucky blow from a festive youth w j as knocked into the tank. After the contents had been boiling for some time a yellow fat came to the surface, which was skimmed off into kerosene tins. Onl my asking if this stuff was used for axleg grease I was informed that it was bought! in Wellington for making pastry, etc.” |