The Wanganui Chronicle AND Patea- Rangitikei Advertiser " NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22. 1897. MEAT INSPECTION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 12287, 22 December 1897, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle AND Patea- Rangitikei Advertiser " NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22. 1897. MEAT INSPECTION.

The action brought by the Borough 1 Council against Mr Thomas Mitchell for selling meat within the limits of the Borough without a license has terminated in favour of the ' former, the Magistrate being of 1 opinion that the by-law was valid. There are circumstances in the case, hotvevev, which make the refusal of a license to Mr Mitchell a peculiar hardship, and we think that some compromise might very properly be effected to enable Mr Mitchell to carry on his business under official supervision, subject to his being charged with the whole of any additional expense which might be incurred. Mr Mitchell's slaughter house is outside the limits of the borough ; he has been carrying ou business for many years and. it does not seem equitable that nn industry which finds employment for a number of workmen should be arbitrarily closed by the retrospectve action of a by-law, although tbat by-law is iutended for the protection of the public health. The public only asks to be safeguarded against the introduction of diseased germs -with their food, and is not concerned where the meat is killed or by whom inspected, provided that no diseased or unwholesome meat is exposed for sale. It is the business of the Borough Council to secure, through inspection by a competent inspector, but not to make their system unnecessarily harsh or oppressive. We do not think thafc so far there has been any evidence that Mr Mitchell's meat has not been properly inspected, or any allegation that he has exposed meat for sale which would not have passed the Council's inspector ; therefore, the refusal to grant a license can only be to force him to submit to regulations, which, in his case, would be ruinous. There has been no evidence given to show that he is not a proper person to hold a license, or that he has done anything, or failed to do anything to justify its refusal. The refusal is a means of coercion pure and simple. There is a difficulty we must admit in making special arrangements for inspection afc a branch abattoir, bufc there are other ways of meeting fc than by withholding a license. We think that the Council might permit Mr Hawke to exercise a general supervision over the meat killed at Mr Mitchell's, slaughterhouse, and to see that exactly the same condi • tions and restrictions are observed as at Castlecliff, and if this involves the appointment of an assistant inspector the Borough Council could charge such a fee for the privilege of special inspection as would cover additional expense. The chief argument against the course we suggest is that it would be a bad precedent to make any distinction between one butcher and another, but the instances in which it will be worth a man's while to iLcur a very large expenditure for the privilege of official inspection on his own premises, are only likely to occur in the case of extensive meat preserving works ; even then there is a broad distinction between works established before aud after the passing of the by-law. Inspection as it is applies only to fresh killed meat. Large quantities of tinned meats are sold which we have to take a good deal on trust. Meat which is tinned ought to be inspected, and if for no other reason we think that the Borough Council would act in the public interest by making some arrangement for the inspection of" Mr Mitohell's works by jfcheir own inspector.