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One argument in favour of giving compensation with regard to pigs is that
it is difficult in the early stages of Tuberculosis to detect the disease in the
living animal, and that in consequence a dealer buying a pig for slaughter
may be subject to a heavy loss, but this argument practically applies to all
trades, risks of a similar nature being unavoidable.
The Bill never reached a second reading, being dropped by the promoters.
IV.—MEAT INSPECTION AT THE CENTRAL MEAT MARKETS.
The Sanitary Committee dealt generally with the question of meat inspection
in a Report presented by me on the 25th June last, when the following
Resolutions were agreed to, and laid before the Court of Common Council on
the 28th of the same month, when it was ordered to be printed, and the
consideration adjourned:—
"Recommendations of Sanitary Committee.
"(1) The necessity of forthwith promoting legislation for the com"pulsory
inspection, at the time of slaughter, of all animals (together
"with the viscera) intended for the food of man,. as the only reliable
"system for the protection of the public, and ensuring such inspection
"being made by a Veterinary Surgeon or other recognised expert.
"(2) That all meat found free from disease after such inspection shall
"be officially stamped.
"(3) That all foreign meat be required to comply with the same
"standard as that of home.killed meat, and that the Government should
"be responsible for the maintenance of such standard."
"(4) That, with regard to boxed and boned fresh meat, arrangements
"should be made for the exclusion from the United Kingdom of any
"class of meat which is packed in such a way as to prevent inspection
"or the possibility of the detection of disease, or which contravenes the
"recommendations of the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis ; and
"(5) That the Report of the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis
"should be issued at the earliest possible date."
At the Court of Common Council held on the 26th July, No. 5 was
agreed to, and the debate further adjourned with respect to the remaining
recommendations. At the resumption of the debate on the 20th September,
Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 were agreed to. On the consideration of a further
recommendation that in the opinion of the Committee public abattoirs should
be provided and private slaughterhouses be abolished, the Court did not
express any opinion, the Previous Question being moved and carried.
With regard to this latter recommendation, it should be noted that
Dr. Buchanan in his report strongly favoured the provision of: public