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Meat Inspection and Slaughter of Stock. The meat inspection staff carried out its onerous duties satisfactorily during the year. Owing to increased pig killings in many centres and the extreme vigilance demanded in inspection methods to-day a further increase in the staff became necessary at the beginning of the season. In the detection of lymphadenitis in mutton carcasses, incision of lymphatic glands became compulsory during the year, in compliance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health, England. The total numbers of stock slaughtered at registered premises were : Sheep, 3,351,208 ; lambs, 9,957,734; cattle, 588,656; calves, 1,079,572; swine, 1,085,107. The following table shows the stock slaughtered during the past year at freezing-works only, the previous year's figures being shown for comparison : —

For further purposes of comparison the following table is given, showing the killings of sheep and lambs at meat-export slaughterhouses over four periods, Ist October to 31st March in each year, as indicative of the slaughterings from the beginning of each season to 31st March :—

The figures show an increase of 471,801 sheep and an increase of 503,741 lambs compared with the same period last year. Following are the numbers of each class of animal slaughtered under direct inspection during the year ended 31st March, 1938: Cattle, 500,787; calves, 1,077,393; sheep, 3,134,870; lambs, 9,938,189 ; and pigs, 1,056,814. The following table indicates the respective classes of premises at which these animals were slaughtered

Stock slaughtered at ordinary slaughterhouses during the year ended 31st March, 1938, was as follows : Cattle, 87,869 ; calves, 2,179 ; sheep, 216,338 ; lambs, 19,545 ; swine, 28,293. Carcasses of pork killed and dressed by farmers, sent into butchers' shops and small factories, and examined by departmental officers numbered 23,08.1. In connection with the animals shown in the above tables as slaughtered at meat-export slaughterhouses the following numbers are returned as having gone into consumption within the Dominion: Cattle, 34,729 ; calves, 20,784 ; sheep, 254,552 ; lambs, 104,374 ; swine, 170,721. Compensation paid for Stock and Meat condemned. Compensation to the amount of £17,299 16s. 9d. was paid out during the year for animals condemned in the field for disease under the provisions of the Stock Act, and £27,922 16s. sd. for carcasses, or parts of carcasses, condemned for disease on examination at the time of slaughter at abattoirs, meat-export slaughterhouses, &c., under the provisions of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act. Importation of Stock. The following stock was imported during the yeai : Cattle, 55 ; sheep, 514 ; pigs, 16 ; horses, 38 (10 draught). Of the above animals, the following were placed in quarantine for the respective periods required : Horses, 8 (from the United States of America) ; sheep, 12 ; cattle, 55 ; and pigs, 16.

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o. ! Year ended I Year ended T ; 31st March, 1938. 31st March, 1937. Increase. Cattle.. .. .. .. .. 322,992 244,834 78,158 Calves .. .. .. .. 996,436 957,141 39,295 Sheep.. .. .. .. .. 2,534,236 2,121,925 412.311 Lambs .. .. .. .. 9,839,269 9,180,482 658,787 Swine.. .. .. .. .. 883,080 807,041 76,039

Stock. 1934-35. ! 1935-36. I 1936-37. 1937-38. - i I I I Sheep .. .. .. 1,735,237 1,287,331 1,276,234 1,748,035 Lambs .. .. .. 6,626,315 6,269,694 6,536,408 7,040,149

Stock. Abattoirs. Meat-export slaughterhouses. Cattle .. .. .. .. .. 177,795 322,992 Calves .. .. .. .. .. 80,957 996,436 Sheep .. .. .. .. .. 600,634 2,534,236 Lambs .. .. .. .. .. 98,920 9,839,269 Swine .. .. .. .. .. 173,734 883,080