A DISQUIETING REPORT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11127, 29 July 1907, Page 4

A DISQUIETING REPORT.

CHRISTCHURCH ABATTOIRS: A Christchurch Press reporter who visit- . ed the municipal abattoirs at Sockburn on .Tuesday made some unpleasant discoveries. He found that the necks of carcases ■ of beef awaiting delivery were hung within 3ft of tlie floor, and at the time of his visit a couple oj 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 the purpose of cooling in the same apartment as that in. which tlie actual killing is done. When a beast's throat is cut the blood gushes out upon a concrete floor, but owI ing to the arrangements the blood canI not get away,' and consequently con- ! geals into a fearsome looking mass. This substance lay nearly an inch deep on the flaqr at the time oi the reporter's inspection, and as one unfortunate creature ! crashed out of tho pithing pen on to the ' floor its kicks and struggles sent showers j of congealed horror in nil directions, spattering even a carcase hung up in the last stages of dressing. * The men have to slush through tne patches and pools oi Iblood in pursuit of their duties, much of it naturally getting upon their nands, and from thence to the newly -skinned carcases upon which they are operating. Outside the pens and race for both cat- ! tie and sheep appeared to be inconvenient. In regard to the latter, there seemed to be great difficulty in getting the sheep up the inclined plane to the slaughtering ; floor. Most of tne pens are puved witn : concrete, and are either flat or else have a fall from the centre that is- impercept- ) ible. The sheep awaiting slaughter natur- ! ally are thus confined tor some considerable time, and those seen yesterday were in a pitiable plight. The flooring of the pens was covered to the depth of over, half an inch with liquid filth, in which most of the sheep had lain. There are surface drains in plenty surrounding the pens, but the filth somenow does not seem ', to escape into them. On Tuesday these gutters were standing half-full of dark, dvil-looking liquid in a stagnant condition. Want of fresh water-flushing was apparent everywhere. It was manifestly inu possible lor .the men to dress in a. thoroughly cleanly and wholesome condition when the sheep they had to handle were Ibedaubed with such filth as was to be seen. Most of the cattle-pens were paved with concrete, but here again useless gut. ters were in evidence, and (i superabund. ance of tilth upon tlie flooring. The puved pens were absolute, cleanlinecs itstlf compared with the almost indescribablu condition of the unpaved cat-

- - - ■- lie pens. In these cattle were seen standing over their hoofs and nearly up to their hocks in manure and urine, churned up into a festering morass repulsive enough to turn tho strongest stomach. When tlie unfortunate creatures are wild, or are sought to bo driven up the race, they surge and plunge through the hideous quagmire, carrying masses of the filth into ; the slaughtering department. Tlie Chairman ofi the City Council Abattoirs Committee (Cr. W. H. Cooper) explained that extensive repiiirs (including concrete flooring) to tho different pens and races were m 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 over come williout serious difficulty. [Official statements have since been made that th e above description of the abattoirs is exaggerated.]