THE HON. J McGOWAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11856, 7 January 1902, Page 5

THE HON. J McGOWAN.

DEPUTATION FROM THAMES BUTCHERS. [BY TELEGRAM.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Monday. A deputation from the butchers of the Thames, consisting of Messrs. Deeble, Pyne, Taylor, and Connolly, waited upon the Hon. J. McGowan this afternoon in connection with the working of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act of 1900. Mr. Deeble pointed out that the annual charge of £200 required by the regulations as inspectors' salary, etc., pressed very heavily upon a small community. The statutory fees did not provide the amount required, and the Borough Council had practically thrown the onus of providing the balance on Messrs. West and Co., which really meant that the local butchers had to supply the deficiency. In -his reply, Mr. "McGowan said he did not think the local bodies should have thrown the responsibility of providing the amount required on the slaughtermen. To the best of his knowledge, and he had looked into the matter rather closely while the Bill was before the House in the interests of the Thames and other small : communities, it was not the intention of the Act that the butchers should pay heavy fees, because the public as a whole required protection. He would represent the matter to his colleague, the Minister for Lands, on his return to ( Wellington, and suggest an alteration to the regulations to meet cases similar to that they had brought under his notice. As the inspector was also employed in milk and dairy inspection, it seemed unfair that the butchers should be called upon to make up the major portion of his salary. Mr. McGowan left for Paeroa this evening by train. He will remain there overnight, and to-morrow lie will proceed to Waihi. He expects to return to the Thames on either Thursday or Friday, and will afterwards proceed to Coromandel. / Paeroa, Monday. The Hon; J. McGowan, Minister fort 1 Mines, and his private secretary, arrived by train from the Thames this evening.