The Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 1873.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1629, 14 May 1873, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 1873.

Amovq the subjects of importance to which the attention of the Provincial Council should be directed during the present session is that of slaughtering cattle within or near the city. The public health is seriously involved and the time hag arrived when a ' complete alteration should be made in She system at present pursued. The aieans bf which this could be accomplished are very simple, and the membars for Christchurch, in concert with those who represent the districts imme♦^ife^putside the Town belt, would i*S|l|i|> difficulty in bringing about* the <&Hfe£d end, which is nothing more nor less'^han the establishment of a public abbatoir or slaughter-house in the locality most suitable for that purpose, inhere are at present no lesß than thirty iJaughter-houseg withiu- a -radium -.of three miles from Christchurch, and it

v a significant fact that members of the medical profession have more than once given it as their opinion^- that certain diseasea-which have appeared m Christchurch originated beyond the Town belt. It is not to be understood that we consider slaughter-houses in tfce suburbs to have been the sole cause of this, but how far they may have contributed to it no one can tell. Certainly they are liable to produce ill effects, $nd though it is to the credit of the Inspectors that a very strict supervision » kept over them, complaints are — and always will be—heard, so long as the •laughter- houses are continued in their present form. Not a licensing day has •ccurred for many years at the Cbriste&nrck—MagiatratVs Court without — being marked byleaturea-of-tlm kind, while ifc may fairly be assumed that, cither from apathy, or a desire not to create ill-feeling, half the complaints against slaughter-houses never come to the knowledge of the authorities, and •very year the increase of population m the suburbs renders the question of store serious importance. Butchers are constantly compelled to move their slaughtering premises, and this, together with the ever-impending establishment of a public abbatoir, makes them very • loth to expend their capital in providing improved means for slaughtering; thus matters are constantly in that unsettled state which greatly increases ' tiie danger to the public health. No one has a better chance .of estimating this at its true value than the Resident Magistrate of Christchurch, and that •gentleman has frequently spoken from the Bench upon the necessity for the establishment of a public slaughterhouse for Cbristchurch and its suburbs. The butchers themselves are, also, not •verse to tbe proceeding, for it would ffl&jrdthem greater convenience, and it »> ft qnesSiott whether the cost would m>& be less than under the present system. . As we have said, the process by vhish the alteration in the system «m be brought about is very simple. .The fourth clause of the SlaoLahtoa-houge Ordinance says; — ** Ifcahall be lawful for His Excellency the. Governor, when, and as he shall see fit, by .proclamation to direct and app'ol<Y ; mat one or more slaughteriouse or houses, within or near any town within the colony, shall be a public slaughter-house, or houses, for ■uch period aa he shall in that behalf appoint ; and by any such proclamation to direct that all cattle slaughtered in any such town, or within three miles from the outer boundary thereof, for «ale, barter, shipping or exportation, ahall be slaughtered at such slaughterBouse or houses only ; provided always, that until such proclamation 3hall be mado, slaughter-houses in or near any such town may be licensed as feejrmbefore provided." The power of wpcftaiation having been given to the Superintendent by " The Delegation of Powers Act," a resolution from the Provincial Council, asking his Honor id establish, by proclamation, a public slaughter-house for Christchurch and 2* suburbs would doubtless be efficient to induce a compliance with •ahati is. desired. His Honor can Mfticely be ignorant of the importance!

attaching to the subject'; but even if such were the case, very little enquiry would suffice to convince him of the necessity for carrying the resolution into effect. St. Albans, "Waltham, Addington, Avonville, and all the suburbs are growing with astonishing rapidity, and to have thirty* slaughterhouses scattered about amongst them must evidently be incurring a risk very treat and totally unjustifiable. No public funds would be required to support a general slaughter-house, for clause 17 of the Ordinance provide for certain fees being charged for killing, such fees not to exceed 2s 6d each for c&WCt one-year old, sheep, or pigs, and 5s each for cows, heifers, Bteers, or other cattle. By clause 19 the slaughter-house would also be strictly governed, provision baing therein made for regular inspection, and for certain hours being fixed daring which killing Bhould take place, while the system upon which public slaughter-houses are conducted, would render it impossible for a nuisance, however slight, to arise. The resolution, it is needless to say should be brought before the Council by one of the city or suburban members,jind we would strongly urge upon them the necessity of paying attention to it during the present session. Matters affecting the public health-will tho least of anyJirookjlelay, j and the one under notice can ..'scarcely. ! be placed in a secondary position with any other. If the gentlemen referred to do not avail themselves of the opportunity now afforded, they will be neglecting a serious public duty, and one which, in the event of an epidemic disease appearing in the city or its vicinity will be a great reproach to them. Let us once more therefore urge them to -deal with the subject as it deserves, promptly and effectively.