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104
SLAUGHTERHOUSES.
There still remains an objectionable feature in the City. The remarks made
by my predecessor apply with almost equal force to-day, viz.:—
"With one or two exceptions, these are ill-adapted for the business,
"and require the constant supervision of the Meat Inspectors to keep
"them in anything like a wholesome condition."
There were 14 of these places existing when those remarks were made;
these have now, from varying causes, been reduced to eight in 1904, the right
to slaughter having lapsed in one case since the last Report.
No. 44, which was so much damaged during the demolition of some
adjoining premises as to make it unsafe for killing bullocks in, is scheduled
for coming down in the widening of Mansell Street, and it is to be hoped that,
becoming thus a corner site, when the widening is effected, will render the
site too valuable for such a business.
REPORT BY ADMIRALTY COMMITTEE ON HUMANE
SLAUGHTERING OF ANIMALS.
In January, 1904, a Committee was appointed at the instance of the Board
of Admiralty to consider the question of humane slaughtering of animals, and
included representatives of the War Office, Board of Agriculture, City of
London, and the London County Council.
A large number of witnesses were examined, including some nominated by
the Association of Master Butchers and the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, besides practical butchers and certain private
individuals who had made a particular study of the subject. Further
information was obtained from Austria, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland.
The Committee reported on 1st July, 1904, and made several recommendations,
the principal being that:—
All animals, without exception, should be stunned or otherwise
rendered unconscious before blood is drawn.
Private slaughterhouses should be replaced by public abbatoirs.
Slaughtermen and others employed in or about slaughterhouses should
be licensed by the Local Authority.
The Committee also gave careful consideration to the question of the best
design for a slaughterhouse, and presented a set of recommendations based
upon the design of a model slaughterhouse then being constructed by the
Admiralty at Chatham Dockyard, of which they submitted a complete
description with plans.