PUBLIC ABATTOIRS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8056, 3 November 1897, Page 2

PUBLIC ABATTOIRS.

The question of providing public abattoirs for Gisborne was brought before the Borough Council by the Mayor last night. His Worship said the question of the inspection of meat was being brought very prominently forward just now, and he supposed the Council would have to face it very shortly. They found from the inspectors going round the country that there was a good deal of diseased meat about, and it would be a safeguard against tin's to have efficient inspection. Of course the erection of abattoirs would be a very expensive matter, but in Wanganui he believed they tyad arranged with the Freezing Company to kill all the meat and have it thoroughly inspected at the Company's works, where it was cooled and sent to the butchers' shops cooler than it was usually brought in from the slaughterhouses. Probably .something of that sort could be done in Gjsborue, and he intended to move that a committee be appointed to go intp the question and report to a subserjuont meeting, The main question, of course, was one of expense, both to the Council and the butchers. Expenses of all kinds would have to be kept down to" the narrowest limits, but the matter was one of considerable moment, and was well worthy of attention. For the borough and suburbs the consumption of meat per annum was : Sheep 7800, cattle 1300, pigs 780. That was a large quantity, and no doubt some diseased meat was passed oft' on them, whereas if it was proporjy inspected that would be avoided, and the health of the people safeguarded, and owing to the increase of diseases which it was suid were brought about by diseased meat, it was very necessary Home steps should be taken. He moved that a Committee consisting of Crs Lewis, Hepburn, Kennedy, and the mover be appointed to make enquiries at the freezing works, and to report to the Council, and in the meantime the Town Clerk could get information from Wanganui as to the expenses, etc., in connection with the arrangements made there. The motion was seconded by Cr Nolan. On the suggestion of Cr Lewis, Cr Skeet's name was added to the proposed Committee, Cr Hepburn : I think it would be a really good tiling. The Mayor : Yes, and it ought to bo put through as quickly as possible. The question of inspection will be an after consideration. The motion was carried unanimously.