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Will increase, and the English pig breeder's business has already been seriously
affected by the import from the Continent of carcases of pigs so marked. As
before stated, when the new abattoirs are established at the Metropolitan Cattle
Market at Islington, the Corporation will be afforded an exceptional opportunity
of dealing with the proposition of marking meat. If put into effect it could
do no possible harm by causing any disturbance of trade, and the cost will be
practically nothing. When the public became aware of the true significance
of the mark on pork, it is only reasonable to believe that such meat would be
in demand.
V. THE CONVEYANCE OF MEAT TO AND FROM THE
CITY MARKETS.
Special attention has been directed to this matter, and one of the Sanitary
Inspectors was detailed to make daily observations as to the conditions under
which supplies were transported both to and from the market. In only one
case out of over 2,000 carts that came under observation was the carman seen
to be sitting on the meat. The owners having been written to, at once gave
instructions that will obviate any further ground for complaint. A large
number of vans employed by meat carriers are tilt vans with curtains back
and front to enclose the entire contents of the vehicle. Unless these curtains
are properly drawn and securely fastened, the meat cannot be said to be
properly protected from dust and other impurities, and in every case when
this has been neglected, the owners have been written to. This has involved
very considerable correspondence, and it is satisfactory to note that in nearly
all cases the owners have undertaken to see that this essential precaution is
not neglected. A noticeable improvement in this respect has been observed,
and taken generally it may be safely said that, in the absence of compulsory
powers to compel carriers to transport food supplies in vehicles of special
construction, cases of abuse in this respect are now comparatively rare. In
Dublin the Sanitary Authority have power to make bye.laws, inter alia, with
regard to the conveyance of carcases through public streets. Bye.law 21,
made under the Towns Improvement Act, 1847, the Public Health (Ireland)
Act, 1878, and the Dublin Corporation Act, runs as follows:—
"Every carcase, or portion of a carcase of meat conveyed through the
"public thoroughfares shall be conveyed in a properly constructed cart
"or other suitable vehicle, and shall be properly covered and not
"exposed to view."
The Irish are to be congratulated upon their good sense in securing power
to make such a reasonable bye.law, and the sooner their example is followed
elsewhere the better it will be for the public.
One other point in connection with meat conveyance remains to be noted,
viz., the condition and construction of some of the refrigerating vans used
in the carriage of meat. That these are not all that might be desired is shown
in the Report for 1905 of the Intelligence Division of the Board of