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diminish our efforts for improvement, except where the offences
are palpably evident to our nostrils or vision. But, it must
never be forgotten, that here, as elsewhere, it behoves us
" during peace to prepare for war."
SLAUGHTER HOUSES AND LICENSES.
In the month of September, pursuant to public notice,
thirty-four persons applied to the Vestry to have their premises
inspected, which were used for slaughtering cattle, previous to
application for a license at Quarter Sessions. Many of the
places were found commodious, but some persons who made
application had no buildings at all, having been accustomed to
kill sheep and calves in the open air in their back premises.
Alterations were required in the premises of some, which were
partially effected; and a few, refusing or neglecting to pay
attention to the matter, were not allowed the license, in the
absence of the recommendation by the Vestry. Twenty-eight
licenses were granted, two were refused on the ground of the
applicant having no proper premises, one for refusing to connect
his slaughter-house with the sewer, and three because slaughtering
was not considered a necessary portion of their business,—one
of them being a drover, and the others cow-keepers on an
extensive scale.
It appears to me that in our district the act of parliament
requiring the licensing of slaughter-houses, has been nullified
by the indiscriminate permission to license granted by the
magistrates at Quarter Sessions. In my opinion it was contemplated
by the legislature, in the enactment alluded to, to
provide for the better conduct of a necessarily offensive process,
by restricting it to buildings and premises in every way appropriate
to the purpose, and not to perpetuate and legalize the
continuance of an occupation, in itself a nuisance, in places so
manifestly unfit for the purpose as are many so-styled slaughter
houses, which have received a license.