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79
It does not, however, seem right that meat once seized by an Authority as
unfit for food should ever be allowed to again leave its hands, and I would
strongly urge the adoption of a system by which the Corporation should itself
undertake the destruction and utilization of such material.
If a firm of contractors can afford to pay for the meat and make a profit, it
is probable that the Authority could do the same, and, in any case, the
possibility of condemned food finding its way into consumption would be
finally obviated.
Inasmuch as the Cattle Markets, the Meat Markets, the Poultry Markets,
and the Port Sanitary Authority all have large quantities of such material
to dispose of, the difficulty in organising a system can only be one of detail.
In view of the importance of your Department being informed from time
to time as to the likelihood of unsound frozen meat, or other food, being found
amongst consignments from the Docks, arrangements have been made whereby
the Port Sanitary Authority notifies the City in the event of any seizures on
board refrigerating ships in the Port, or of any suspicious cargoes being met
with. This system has already been found of value in several instances.
In June your Medical Officer recommended the construction of an additional
van for the removal of condemned meat, and, with the sanction of your
Committee, this has since been carried out. In several respects the details
have been improved, in accordance with the suggestions of your Senior
Inspector of Meat.
UNSOUND FRUIT, VEGETABLES, TINNED FOOD. &c.
Two hundred and fifty-three cartloads of unsound food were
removed by the Cleansing Department and destroyed as trade refuse at
Letts' Wharf, at the written request and expense of the owners.
The material so disposed of comprised:-
Vegetables and Fruit 167 loads
Condensed Milk 20 ,,
Fish and Tinned Meat 10 „
Cheese 1 „
Miscellaneous 55„
Total 253 loads