ABATTOIR MANAGEMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11857, 22 May 1909, Page 5

ABATTOIR MANAGEMENT.

CONFERENCE WITH MR C. J. ; "REAKES. At the Bofough' CdUncil Chambers this morning a conference was held between Mr C. J. Reakes, Chief Veterinarian and Director of Live Stock Department and Meat Divisictn, and the Borough Council respecting, the management and working of the abattoirs, m respect of which it was decided at last Tuesday's meeting of .the Council to appoint the Government .Inspector to the manager.ship instead of employing a pKvate manager ds has. been m vogue recently. There were present : The Mayor (Mr Lysnar) % Crs Kirk, Maynard, Clayton, Collins, ' Smith,/ Harris, and Somervell. The M&yor, m opening, said that he Had informed Mr Reakes that, there was a Reeling m some quarters that the local Gbvernhient officer might not be able to give. them satisfaction m all the branches of the work, and if this was the case wbiild he be replaced by an officer better dble to do so. Mr Reakes had assured him on that point. YylVlr, Reakes .said he was glad of tlie opportunity to meet and discuss matters Vith , the Council. In deciding to place the abattoirs under the management of the Government Inspector he thought they had takeh the wisest course. It \s£s,teC great,- mistake to have divided authority, which was not only likely to cause friction, but impaired the working of the abattoirs. As to, the present Inspector, Mr Spragg, he was an officer In \"C'hbm he had a great deal of con - fidence. He had done his work constantly, thoroughly, .and practically, and was always endeavoring to improve himself. He felt sure that he would manage the abattoirs m a practical maffner, and if appointed would he felt sure, give jSJttiSfgctibn. If, oh the other hand, he Bid Heft' at any tinie give that measure ol satisfaction that was desired he (Mi Reakes) was prepared' to. send, anothet man m his place. He (the speaker) felt he was involved m the successful working of the- abattoirs, because he had always made it a practice to advise Borough C^Urtfcils td: appoint the Govern ment Ylnsfiector to i the .charge, of the abattoirs, and there, had" been ho desire oh their part ■to change it. If the Council desired a new man ' he Would send ,one who had proved himself a capable abattoir manager. He did not for a minute anticipate that. He suggested that ihlprovemqhts hiight be made Sti^thte, pig-killing arrangement at a reasonable cost. The same applied to thY piiHi^g pen. He noted there was a sug> gSjitkh to , iUsb&titute a larger but his ' experience was that the narrower pen was. the better, and it was iised by the large meat companies throughout the Dominion. He agreed the Committee had done, right m not adopting the contract %ys£ehK ' tHB Mayor) explained that the Inspector wbuld'do all the work- performed bjy the present manager except m cleaning yards and the voluntary assistance he rendered m killing. . Mr Reakes, expressed his approval of the schedule of duties. Cr Smith inquired how many abattoirs m the Dominion were; managed by Government inspectors. Mr Reakes said there was only the Invercargill abattoir and a small, one at Paeroa that were not managed' by 1 the Inspectors, and all were wording satisfactorily. Cr Collins asked if it was ths policy of the". Government to dispose of Wen and replace them by departmental officers. Mr Reakes explained that the Government was indirectly -responsible for the working of the abattoirs, arid therefore had to do all they could to ensure their proper working. *-'",, Cr Collins; And you recommend it?— Yes t certainly. Cr Collins asked . if it was right the late. manager should be under the departmental officer. . Mr Reakes replied that the manager i had m a measure been under" the Inspector formerly. He saw no reason why j there should he any clashing except an \ individual might possibly feel hurt m ] being given a subordinate position, but , m accepting that position he -should undertake to carry out his duties properly. ( Cr Collins asked who would be the , final authority should a difference crop U P- .' -, j Mr Reakes stated that m questions of { ■ihanagemeht the Council would be perfectly justified m directing the manager, whilst questions of meat inspection, if referred to himself, he would endeavor to feettle m a just and proper manner. | The question of improving the water i supply 'should be looked at from a busi- ! ness point of view. In reply to Cr Harris, he urged that ensuring the utmost cleanliness was the best way of abating the fly nuisance, netting 'being so expensive.. Cr Clayton questioned the Chief Veterinarian respecting the matter of working profit, which Mr Reakes considered should allow for reasonable and just improvements but it was. illegal to ejected 5 per cent, and expend the same m the ■ general Borough funds. If the charges could be reduced—they were a little higher than the average, but not unreasonably so— they shouldybe reduced. It was their duty to give every consideration to the butchers. The Council arranged to inspect the abattoirs with Mr Reakes this afternoon.