HORRIBLE REVELATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6269, 24 July 1907, Page 5

HORRIBLE REVELATIONS

A MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR. FILTHY SURROUNDINGS. PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. A "Press” reporter , who visited the municipal abattoirs at Sockburu to-day made some revolting discoveries. He found that the necks of carcases of beef awaiting delivery were hung within 3ft of the door, and at the time of his visit a couple of dogs were roaming at will beneath these carcases, actually brushing the necks of some of the larger bodies with their tails.

Carcases are hung for purpose of cooling iu the same apartment as that in which the actual killing is done. When a beast’s throat is cut tho blood gushes out upon a concrete floor, but owing to the arrangements the blood cannot get away, and consequently congeals into a fearsome \ looking mass. This substance lay nearly an inch deep on the floor at tho time of the reporter's inspection, and as one unfortunate creature crashed out of the pithing pen on to the floor its kicks and struggles sent showers of congealed horror iu all directions, spattering even a carcase hung up in the last stages of dressing. The men have to slush through the patches and x>ools of blood in pursuit of their duties, much of it naturally getting upon their hands, and from thence to the newly-skinned carcases upon which they are operating. Outside the pens and race for both cattle and sheep appeared to be inconvenient. In regard to the latter, there seemed to be great difficulty in getting the sheep up tho inclined plane to the slaughtering floor. Most of the pens are paved with concrete, and are either flat or else have a fail from the centre that is imperceptible. The sheep awaiting slaughter naturally are thus confined for some considerable time, and those seen yesterday were in a pitiable plight. The flooring of the pens was povered to the depth of over half an inch with liquiu filth, in which most of the sheep had lain. Thero are surface drains in plenty surrounding the pens, but the filth somehow does • not seem to escape into them. Yesterday these gutters were standing half full of dark, evil-looking liquid in a stagnant condition. \Vant of fresh water-flushing was apparent everywhere. It was manifestly impossible for tho men to dress in a thoroughly cleanly and wholesome condition when the sheep they had to handle were bedaubed with such filth as was to be seen.

Most of the cattle-pens were paved with concrete, but here again useless gutters were- in evidence, and a superabundance of fiitb upon the flooring. The paved pens were absolute'cleanliness itself compared with the almost indescribable condition of the unpaved cattle-pens. In these cattle were seen standing over their hoofs and nearly np to their hocks in manure and urine, churned np into a festering morass repulsive enough to turn tho strongest stomach. AVhen the unfortunate creatures arc wild, or are sought to, be driven np tho race, they surge and plunge through the hideous quagmire, carrying ■ masses of the filth into the slaughtering; department.. The chairman of the City Council Abattoirs Committee (Councillor W. H. Cooper) explained that extensive repairs (Including concrete flooring) to the different pons and races were in contemplation by the Council, which, when - effected, would dissipate most of the present grounds for complaint.. The other shortcomings, he further explained, might also be overcome without serious difficulty. ,