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157
a consequence comparatively little diseased meat is seized in butchers'
shops; the majority of the meat seized is on account of indicated
putrefaction; and I am confident that the very small amount of
diseased meat which is seized represents but a small proportion of
the amount which gets into the shops and which is consumed. of
course, in this matter, as in so many others, precautions must be
taken to deal with the dishonest individuals, who represent a small
minority. The large majority of butchers may be trusted to sell the
right sort of meat. Therefore the latter have nothing to lose by
advocating that the slaughtering of cattle for food shall only be permitted
in public abattoirs. The public and Sanitary Authorities
have a recognised legal right to control, in a great measure, the conduction
of the meat trade, and it seems to me a remarkable circumstance
that we have not demanded more strongly that we should be
placed under conditions which will enable us to control it properly.
The preparation of the people's food is a public service; and trade
opposition should not be allowed to stand in the way of the interests of
the community, and I believe of the butchers themselves. Indeed,
the time has come when the meat in this country should be freed from
the reproach that it is not inspected, and that its genuineness or
wholesomaness cannot always be guaranteed; because while it remains
under this ban it is under a disadvantage as compared with foreign
meat, which is almost in its entirety at the present time inspected at
the time of slaughter.
STABLE MANURE.
In recent years there has been a constant decrease in the amount
of stable manure in London owing to the displacement of horse by
motor traffic. Nuisance from this source is therefore very much less
than formerly, a fact which may also be due to the enforcement of
the regulations requiring periodical removal.
HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
In the Borough of Stoke Newington, more especially in the
Southern Division, there is a considerable number of houses let in
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