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89
(b.) That local authorities be empowered to require all meat
slaughtered elsewhere than in public slaughter-house, and
brought into the district for sale, to be taken to a place or
places where such meat may be inspected; and that local
authorities be empowered to make a charge to cover the
reasonable expenses attendant on such inspection.
(c.) That when a public slaughter-house has been established
inspectors shall be engaged to inspect all animals
immediately after slaughter, and stamp the joints of all
carcases passed as sound.
2. It appears desirable that in London the provision of public
in substitution for private slaughter-houses should be considered in
respect to the needs of London as a whole, and in determining their
positions regard must be had for the convenient conveyance of
animals by railway from the markets beyond the limits of London,
as well as from the Islington market, to the public slaughter-houses
which should be provided. At the present time no administrative
authority has statutory power authorising it to provide public
slaughter-houses other than for the slaughter of foreign cattle at the
port of debarcation.
3. With regard to slaughter-houses in rural districts, the case
is not so easy to deal with. But the difficulty is one that must be
faced, otherwise there will be a dangerous tendency to send
unwholesome animals to be slaughtered and sold in small villages
where they will escape inspection. We recommend, therefore, that
in Great Britain the inspection of meat in rural districts be administered
by the county councils. In Ireland the duty of carrying out
inspection ought to devolve upon authorities corresponding as nearly
as possible to those charged with that duty in England and Scotland.
In view of the announced intention of the Government to introduce
a new scheme of local government into Ireland we refrain from
specifying the exact machinery which should be employed.
4. We recommend further that it shall not be lawful to offer
for sale the meat of any animal which has not been killed in a duly
licensed slaughter-house.