A DAMNING REPORT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4679, 16 August 1899, Page 3

A DAMNING REPORT.

The people of Gore have just had their eyes opened in a rather startling manner to the insanitary and filthy condition of tuQ slaughterhouses supplying meat to that town, and ib is more than probable the result will bo an agitation for the erection of properly-constructed abattoirs and a thorough inspection of the meat by a qualified man. At the request of the Gore Borough Council, Mr G. J. Reakes. M.R.O Y.S., made an inspection of the four slaughterhouses used by the butchers of the town, and bis report (which was laid before the Council at its last meeting) disclosed a most disgusting and revolting state of affairs in every case. All the members of the Council confessed to being thoroughly shocked at the state of affairs which had been allowed to exist so long in their midst, and it was resolved to immediately lay the report before the Southland County Council, under whose jurisdiction the slaughterhouses were, with the instruction that unless steps were at once taken to remedy the conditions described the Council would take steps to prevent the meat killed in these slaughterhouses coming into the town. Following is a short extract from the report in refer* ence to one of the houses reported on :—• " The blood drain, built of wood, emerged from the building at the bank of a small creek wbieh ran alongside fcbe slaughterhouse, was continued a few feet from the building, presumably for the convenience of the pigs, and then emptied itself on the bank of the creek, its contents draining away to the water. The offal was thrown out alongside ifc, and its liquid portion (and a considerable portion of the semi-solid after rain) also made its way into the creek about the same spot, 'lhis portion of the creek bank presented a most disgusting appearance, the pigs being up to their bellies in a filthy, evil' smelling mixture of blood, offal, skulls, and other abominations, and to get to and fro from this spot the pigs had to wade through the creek. The watersupply of the building is derived from this creek at a spot a few yards below, and the carcases are washed with this water, contaminated with blood, offal, and the filth washed from the pigs' legs as they pass to and fro. Moreover, the bed of the creek was covered with bones and other animal matter."