CARCASES DAMAGED

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20774, 6 April 1939, Page 9

CARCASES DAMAGED

MAINLY DUE TO LOADING SPECIAL COMMITTEE’S REPORT HAMILTON BUTCHERS’ COMPLAINT The view that any damage done to carcases prepared ut the llorotiu works for delivery to butchers in Hamilton would be mainly caused by the present method of loading Hie ' carcases one on top of the other in the delivery vans, was expressed by a special committee of the Hamilton Borough Council, in a report tabled at , the meeting of the council last even- ; ing. The committee, which was appoint- j ed to make an inspection of conditions ! at the llorotiu abattoirs, comprised j Messrs C. Croall, F. Findlay, C. Lai- , ferty and XV. It. Shat-tock, but Mr Shattock, owing to a previous engage- ! merit, was unable to attend at the works on March 16, when the com- • niittee paid its visit. The other members of the com- . initlee, stated the report, arrived at i the works at 6 a.m. and were met by •

inspector .1. W. Lewis, who had commenced his examination of the works at 4.45 a.m. “After carrying out an inspection,” stated the report, “the committee agreed that the meat on the hooks was without fault and that any damage that may he done thereto prior to delivery to the butchers in Hamilton would be mainly caused by the present method of loading the carcases one on top of the other, it being noticed that the vans were packed six and seven high and that in some cases the mutton was on the bottom ana the quarters of beef on the top. Committee’s Recommendat'ons “it was also agreed that the brisk manner of hatddng ihe meat when piur/ng it in the vans would be responsible to a lesser degree fmy ■linage ill at may be dom fc. the c ur-ea.-c.- Tht vans were \mimed and found to be in a clean condition with one exception. In this case some of the previous day’s fgt, etc., was still adhering to the grid flooring, which had apparently been badly shaken, as nails were projecting from l-Bin to Jin at the joints, and the committee was of the opinion that such a defect could easily be the cause of carcases being torn and scarred in transit or unloading. "In order to obviate the meat being damaged in future in the loading and in transit from the abattoirs to •Hamilton, the committee makes the following recommendations: (1) That the meat be hung on hooks in the vans instead of being packed; (2) That the meat be covered with white cloths and not with scrim as at present.” In presenting the committee's report, Mr Croall stated that the meat dressed at the works on the morning of the inspection appeared to be in perfect condition. In the speaker's opinion, however, the problem of supplying tender meat to Hamilton consumers could best be solved by trucking stock to llorotiu instead of driving the beasts there and slaughtering them while they were still hot from the road. Opinions of Butchers Replying to the remarks of Mr Croall, Mr \V. R. Shattock said that there was a grave objection to trucking of cattle, in the first place because they might injure one another in the trucks and, secondly, because they might suffer bruising during shunting, and from other causes. The cost of trucking stock was by no means the objection, from the butchers’ point of view. Again, the butchers were not of the opinion that the recommendations of the committee were sound. The provision of vans of sufficient strength to carry carcases would be expensive, if such vans could be procured, and any extra cost would have to be passed on to consumers. As far as the use of scrim was concerned, that material was used in overesas transport of carcases and was quite suitable for the purpose. If white cloths were used, it would be difficult to keep them white. Confirmation of the remarks of Mr Croall on the condition of dressed meat at the works was provided by Mr Lafferty, who suggested that the leading of vans and transport of meat

from Horotiu to Hamilton were entirely the responsibility of the butchers. It was their duty to see that the meat was transported in a satisfactory manner.

Recent Improvement The condition of meat arriving at the shops in Hamilton since complaints were first made by the butchers to the council had shown a marked improvement, said Mr Shattock, in reply, and the Master Butchers’ Association felt that the result was a matter for self-congratulation. If the dressing of meat at the works continued to be as satisfactory in the future, the council would not again receive complaints on that score from the butchers of Hamilton. On being put. to the. meeting, the special committee’s report was receivert.

WORKMEN’S ATTITUDE DESIRE TO MEET COUNCIL Arising out ot comment marie at the : previous meeting of Die Hamilton ! Llorouigh Council regarding the handI ling, at the llorotiu works, of meat I destined for llainiiti n sumption, a ; If tter was received from Ihe llorotiu i branch of Die Abrtlnjr Assistants' and I Freezing Workers l ninn, al the meeti lug of the council last evening, asking i that the council should receive a j deputation representing the me:, in j Older to allow them lo place their The desire of Hie men lo have their I side of the malD r heard. Die letter stated, arose out of common! reported t „ have I made by Mr \V. It- Slinttnek, ill which rritedsn, was 5i,,,, handled a! the works. To certain aspects of the remarks attributed to Mr Shattock, the letter stated, Die men look strong exception ,1,1 it was felt that the council might allow the men to present their version. : un Die motion of Die .Mayor, Mr 11. deputation of Die men at the meeting lo lie held on April 12.