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dressed the carcase and sent it to the Central Markets, Smithfield, where it was seized,
taken before a Magistrate, condemned as being unfit for food, and ordered to be
destroyed.
The butcher was subsequently summoned for being the person to whom the meat
belonged at the time it was deposited for the purpose of sale at the Market.
The above facts were proved in evidence, and the butcher himself even admitted
he took all responsibility, but as he satisfied the Court that he derived no benefit from
the transaction, and that the whole of the proceeds would have gone to the farmer's
agent, the summons was dismissed on the ground that defendant was not liable as
owner.
In this instance the accused, probably for trade purposes, was willing to take
responsibility, but the Magistrate could not place this to his disadvantage, and looked
upon him merely as an agent.
This is a typical case illustrating the escape of the owner because he had no
knowledge and the butcher because he was not the owner, and the widening of the
powers of the Corporation so as to include agents or others responsible for sending
unsound meat to the Central Market was essential if they were to efficiently discharge
their duties as the sanitary authority for the City.
SALE OF MARGARINE BILL.
The above Bill was described as "a Bill to provide for the further prevention of
the fraudulent sale of Margarine," and sought to make it an offence to manufacture,
import, store, sell, offer for sale, or otherwise deal in Margarine which, or any part of
the constituents of which, contained any colouring matter.
It was further, an offence against the provisions of the Bill, if any colouring
matter, or substance capable of being used as a colouring matter, were found in any
Margarine factory, or in any premises where the manufacture or sale of Margarine is
carried out, or where Margarine is stored for the purpose of sale.
SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS BILL.
As introduced into the House of Commons, this Bill proposed to amend the law
relating to the slaughtering of animals for human food and its principal provisions
were:—
(1) The licensing of any person carrying on the business of a slaughterer
of animals. Such licence to be an annual one, and revokable in case of
drunkenness on the licensed premises ;
(2) The licensing of the actual killer. Here also the licence is to be an
annual one, and revokable in the case of drunkenness on the licensed premises ;
(3) The stunning of all animals before killing. The term "animals" is
to include cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, asses or mules; an "approved"
instrument is to be employed for slaughter; in the City Bye-laws, only bull,
ox, cow, heifer or sheep are required to be stunned, there being technical
objections to the inclusion of other animals;