CITY ABATTOIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6835, 3 June 1909, Page 6

CITY ABATTOIRS

BY-LAW PASSED BY COUNCIL. REGULATIONS AND FEES. A draft by-law, drawn up after consultation with Mr C. J. Reakes, Chief Veterinarian, and the master butchers of Wellington, was submitted to last night's meeting of the City Council. It will apply to the whole of tho city of AVellington as well as to the abattoir. Tho by-law states, inter alia: > The abattoir shall be open for the admission of cattle on every day (Sundays excepted) from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. and for work on every day (Sundays excepted) from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. and at no other time, except as may be provided by any regulation to be made by the council. THE FEES. Tho fees for inspection and the use of the abattoir shall be as follows: — s. d. For every head of large cattle other than calves ... .... 1 C For every calf ... ... ... 1 3 For every sheep and lamb ... 0 4 For every pig 1 C

No person shall carry on business in the citv as a butcher or vendor or purveyor of meat unless he shall have a license to do so issued by tho council. For every such license the sum of 10s shall bo paid, and for every day Upon which such person shall carry on such business without such license, he ehall be guilty of an offence. Licenses .shall be issued annually, on tho Ist clnv of December, ar.d may be issued for part of a year. The council shall issue a license to any, applicant who shall have a proper shop or place for the sale of meat.

Any poison who shall sell or expose for sale meat not killed in a registered abattoir or licensed meat export slaughter-house shall be guilty of an offence against this by-law; provided that nothing in this by-law contained shall be deemed to prohibit the sale within the city of meat killed outside the' citv, if it has been killed, inspected and passed in accordance with the provisions of the Act. COUNCILLORS' OPINIONS.

Councillor ShirtcKffe, in explaining tho regulations, said it was optional for the killing to be done by contract or by the corporation, but the committee thought it would be better to kill by contract-. The fees mentioned were simply the outdoor inspection fees, but if the' killing were done by contract the total charges would be. about the same as those ruling in other places. Councillor Trevor asked if the recommendations were an arrangement between the butchers and the city engineer. Councillor Shirtcliffe said there was no arrangement as suggested. Tho fees had been fixed After consultation with the master butchers. They had gone as rear as they thought desirable to tho wishes of tho butchers. Tho fees had been fixed with the object of having a small surplus the first year—some £434—which was not too large. If they found the fees were leaving them with too largo a margin they could be reduced.

Councillor McLaren, in seconding tho adoption of the regulations, said he did not think the fees could be any lower than those named.

Councillor Frost thought further time should bo given for consideration of tho report as it was possible the proposals would add something to the cost of the city's meat. He would also like to sec a comparison of figures in force in regard to abattoirs in other parte of the Dominion. Councillor Fletcher hoped tho regulations would be passed that evening. Tho fees were much the same as those in other centres. The master butchers had practically agreed upon the clauses of tho report as they Tfad been drafted. The by-law was adopted and will come up for confirmation in a month's time.