HOSPITAL BUTCHER.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17606, 10 January 1929, Page 8

HOSPITAL BUTCHER.

THE NEW APPOINTMENT.

NO PLACE TO CUT UP. QUESTION OP ACCOMMODATIONAt the last meeting of the Waikato' Hospital Board a month ago about hall an hour was spent diiscussing the appointment of a butcher-. A selection was finally made on ballot. At to-day s meeting it was mentioned that while a butcher had been appointed, theie was no shop in which he could perforin his duties. ' _ A recommendation came forward from the Visiting Committee that £2OO be spent on providing accommodation for the butcher. Mr C. J. W- Barton, a member of the Visiting Committee, said he never signed a recommendation more reluctantly. He did not, in the first place, consider that a proper building could be put up for the money. Neither was the spot suggested for it, between the kitchen and the potato-room, a suitable place. It must also be remembered that the law demanded thoroughly equipped and modern premises for the cutting-up and distribution of meat. He did not think any exception would be made in the case of the Waikato Hospital. He doubted very much that they could get a suitable shop well equipped for the money. Mr T. Hinton agreed with Mr Barton that the site was not suitable. It was a hot, muggy spot, but it seemed to be the only place for the butcher’s shop, which must be near the kitchen and the freezer. To build the shop in a nice breezy spot they would have to move remote from the kitchen. The speaker understood that the present building would carry a second storey. If a second storey were erected, a very fine staff dining-room could be put on top, and the ground floor could then be used as a butchery.

Mr Barton: That is getting far away from a butcher’s shop. The chairman (Mr C. Johnstone) considered that before they entered upon any big expenditure, they should give the experiment of having their own butcher a fair trial- Personally he had every faith that the experiment would turn out successful. After all, the freezer was alongside the proposed site! for the butcher’s shop, which would be used merely for cut-ting-up. The meat would, of course, be kept in the freezer. The managinig secretary, Mr E. G. Johnson, said the position had not arisen from lack of foresight. The matter was gone into some time ago with the engineer and a room, considered suitable, was provided. The butcher, however, said the room was not big enough. Mr Barton said he would like the legal position considered. Jlc thought the plans would first have to be submitted to the Health Department before the work was commenced. He did not think. the hospital would be exempted from the conditions which governed the butchery business throughout the Dominion.

Mr Price: We are not exposing meat for sale.

Mr Barton: We of all people surely should work in satisfactory surroundings. The Health Department is outsenior partner and will no doubt insist upon the health regulations being complied with. We have also a duty to the patients to surround them with the most hygienic conditions.

Mr Price said the building would be merely a cutting-up room. \ It was finally decided to refer the matter back to the House and Finance Committee, with power to act.