MEAT INSPECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 83

MEAT INSPECTION.

LONDON’S CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, December 14. Lieutenant-colonel T. D. Young, 0.8. E., M.K.V.C.S., D.C.S.M., city veterinary officer of the London County Council, will leave for a tour of Australia and New Zealand in February. The invitation to visit the dominions was received from the Commonwealth Government, through the Secretary for the Dominions, the Ministry of Health and the Corporation of the City of London.

The letter containing the invitation suggested that Colonel Young should visit Australia and inspect the meat works and see the conditions under which the animals were slaughtered, and the meat inspected. It was considered that such a visit would be interesting to Australian inspectors and valuable to the British Health authorities. Hearing of the proposed visit, the New Zealand Government sent a similar invitation requesting that Colonel Young should extend his tour to the Dominion.

“ The original idea,” said Colonel Young, when I saw him at Smithfield, “ was that I should go out in September of this year. This, however, would mean that I should not see the works in full swing. It was, therefore, arranged that I should leave in February. As I got the original invitation from Australia 1 shall go there first, but it is possible that having paid my respects to the Commonwealth authorities in Melbourne. I shall go on to New Zealand immediately and inspect the meat works. After that I shall return to Australia, and do what I have to do there, crossing again in August to Auckland to see the whole process of calf-killing and gaining some knowledge of the new veal trade. From New Zealand I shall return to England, via the United States.”

Speaking of the advantages of such a visit, Colonel Young said that as he was responsible to the public for the condition of the 480,000 tons of meat that was sold in London each year, it would certainly be of value for him to get into personal touch with the inspectors in Australia and -sew Zealand, from which countries such a large proportion of the meat was snipped. It would be of the greatest advantage for them to get to know one another. Having seen for oneself the systems of inspection in the meat producing countries one gets more confidence,” said Colonel Young. “Then we shall be able to talk over the things that should be done and should not be done with the carcasses whicn are slightly affected with disease. Having spent my early years on a farm and knowing the difficulties which the producers have to face, I am probably the more ante to sympathise with the producers. ’ UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. Colonel Young nienioned that the LonCorporation had taken legal advice about the visit—the usual practice when any unusual action is contemplated—and it had been suggested that he should refrain from any public expression of policy during his tour, but that his subsequent report should go direct to the Government concerned.

The Pu.il:? Health Committee of the Loi.ucn Corporatism " recognising the compliment, paid to cneir oucer uuu the viuue of the opportunity afforded to him,” recommended to the Court of Common Council that the invitation be accepted. The court unanimously agreed to the recommendation.

Colonel Young—a hearty, friendly Scotsman, by the way —is well known as an expert in meat inspection, not only in Britain but also in all countries from which meat is sent to Smithfield. He has had similar honours conferred on him, having in 1913 been invited by the Argentine Government to view their system of meat inspection, and the Dutch Government in 1923 paid him a similar compliment. He has had a unique experience in meat inspection, having, in addition to experience in Scotland been chief inspector to the City Corporation, first at the Foreign Cattle Market at Deptford (where over 1300 cattle and 300 sheep were killed daily) then at the Islington Abattoirs, and during the last 17 years at Smithfield, where over 480,000 tons of all kinds of food are handled yearly. He has visited Argentine, Uruguay, Paraguay,. Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Belgium, France, Ireland and Wales, studying’ meat inspection, a subject on which he lectures and acts as examiner for the Royal Sanitary Institute and teaches to students of the Royal Veterinary College for the diploma in veterinary State medicine. He has been examiner in medicine and meat inspection for tlie Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. MILITARY CAREER. Colonel Young takes a very active in terest in the progress of his" professiehe is a member of the Council of the College of Veterinary Surgeons tne National Veterinary Medical Association, also vice-president of the Central Veterinary Medical Society. He has long been a. keen territorial officer. At the beginning of the Great War he had passed through the Military School at Aidershot and qualified for the rank of captain; for some time after hostilities commenced he was veterinary officer in charge of remounts at Woolwish, then fitted up and took overseas a veterinary hospital. In 1915, under Sir J. Moore, K.C.M.G., C. 8., F.R.C.V.S., he’ established a convalescent horse depot, near Boulonge. In 1916 he was promoted major and appointed to command a large veterinary' clearing hospital in the forward area at St. Omer with accommodation for 2000 horses and a personnel of 650 officers, n.c.o’s, and men Over 100,000 animals passed through the hospital while he was. in command. In 1917 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, twice mentioned in despatches, and received the honour of the Military 0.8. E. After the Armistice, his hospital was converted into a sales depot, where he was responsible for the sale of thousands of animals.

Returning to Smithfield at. the end of 1919, he studied for and obtained the diploma of veterinary State medicine of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (a newly-established and special public health qualification) at the first examination held.