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or stunning must be effected by means of a mechanically-operated instrument in proper
repair. "Animal" is defined as meaning any horse, mare, gelding, pony, foal, colt, filly,
stallion, ass, donkey, mule, bull, cow, bullock, heifer, calf, steer, ox, sheep, ewe, wether,
ram, lamb, pig, boar, hog, sow, goat or kid.
No person will be liable for any contravention of this provision in respect of the
slaughter of any pig, boar, hog or sow in a slaughter-house or knacker's yard in which
there is not available a supply of electrical energy, unless it is proved that such a supply
could reasonably have been made available; or to the slaughter of any animal without the
infliction of unnecessary suffering by the Jewish or Mohammedan methods for the food of
Jews or Mohammedans respectively.
Every local authority shall within twelve months after the passing of the Act consider
the question whether they will pass a resolution applying the Act to all or any of the
following animals: —sheep, ewes, wethers, rams and lambs; and if such resolution is passed,
the provision as to slaughtering and stunning is to apply to such animals, but where no such
resolution is in force the said animals are exempt from such provision. The Council may
resolve to exempt either goats or kids or both such animals from the application of the Act.
Twenty-eight days' notice of the Council's intention to propose a resolution must be given to
every member of the Council, and notice inserted in the local press. A resolution after
being passed must be advertised in the local press, and may also be published otherwise in
such manner as the Council think sufficient for giving notice thereof to all persons interested.
The Minister of Health must also be notified. Similar provisions apply to the rescindment
or variation of any such resolutions.
All slaughtermen, including Jewish and Mohammedan, are to be licensed by the
Borough Council, excepting an officer of or any person employed by the Minister of Agriculture.
No licence is to be granted, except to a person of the age of 18 years or upwards who
is, in the opinion of the Council, a fit and proper person to hold such a licence. The licence
is to be in force for a period not exceeding three years, and may be renewed or suspended.
The licence will operate in the district of any other authority. Any person aggrieved is
allowed to appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction. A fee, not exceeding 2s., may be
charged by the Council for each licence issued, and not exceeding 1s. for every renewal
thereof.
Conditions are laid down as regards the proper conduct and inspection of .'laughterhouses
and knackers' yards. These places are now under the jurisdiction of the Borough
Council as regards licensing since the passing of the recent Transfer of Powers Order, 1933.
Penalties are provided for contravening the provisions of the Act, but a person is not
liable if he proves that by reason of an accident or other emergency the contravention was
necessary for preventing physical injury or suffering to any person or animal.
Any local authority who have provided or established a slaughter-house may, if they
think fit, employ persons to slaughter or stun animals, and may make such charges as they
consider reasonable for the services of the persons so employed.
The Council have passed a resolution, as laid down by Section 2, applying Section 1
of the Act to sheep, ewes, wethers, rams and lambs, in order to avoid the confusion of having
certain animals dealt with under the Act and others under bye-laws, and also to obviate
the possibility of risk of conflict between the requirements of the Act and the bye-laws.