SLAUGHTERING METHODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 12

SLAUGHTERING METHODS

Sir,—How distorted are the values and moral perceptions of a people who can be moved to indignation at the sight of a statue depicting nature as it is, and ignore a terrible evil that cannot but affect the tone of the community to a pronounced degree. I refer to the methods employed in this country in killing for food. I feel sure that if the eyes of the people at Home were opened to the cruelties taking place in our slaughter-houses, the New Zealand meat trade would suffer considerably. Cruelty itself is to be condemned, but the result of fear in an animal is to render its flesh toxic and unfit for food. If only human beings would scrap old moralities and cultivate newer, on a higher plane, the world would move more quickly and to a happier tune. E.C. Sir, —With reference to " Cattle Farmer's" letter, I would like to inquire if anything is going to be done to remedy the appalling state of affairs described. When animals are to be killed, there seems to be an idea that any sort of treatment is good enough for them until the actual moment of killing arrives—to let these unfortunate beasts stand all day and witness each killing is horribly brutal and unintelligent, and reflects little credit on those responsible for such an arrangement. Are we in New Zealand so callous and indifferent to the blind agony and terror that day after day droves of cattle are experiencing? We ought to be, first for the sake of the animals themselves, secondly, from the point of the fitness of such meat for consumption. Terror and fright can poison the blood-stream of an animal just as it will that of a person. Is it any wonder that people develop cancer and other diseases? Why should not the only legal method of killing be with the painless killer, as it is in Scotland. The women, especially the housewives, could do a lot to settle the question once and for all, a united refusal to purchase any meat at all until the painless killer is introduced would soon bring the desired result. Could not a petition be opened that the public might sign, or a meeting of protest bo called? New Zealand has much to learn. Fifty years ago, I am told, they had a better method of trucking sheep and cattle in Argentina than we have here at the present day. K.M.