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86
MEAT INSPECTION.
Details referring to the work which has been carried out at the Central Market
and at the slaughterhouses at Aldgate have been prepared by Mr. 0. Sharp, Senior
Inspector of Meat, who has been acting as Chief Inspector during the time Mr. Young
has been absent on Military Duties. I have already expressed my appreciation of
Mr. Sharp's services and the efforts of the whole staff, notwithstanding the absence ot
many of their colleagues, to maintain that high standard of efficiency which is aimed
at in normal times. Additional duties have devolved upon this branch of my work
owing to the increased supervision which has been arranged of premises at which
food for army use is received. Practically no complaints have to be noted in this work,
and perhaps the chief was the condemnation of a quantity of meat, amounting to
1,125 lbs., which showed decomposition changes. The circumstances were accidental
and resulted from a supply of food being sent to an encampment in the country ;
this could not be delivered and was returned to Smithfield. The changes were noted
on return. In another instance a considerable number of very poor quality carcases
of imported meat were surrendered as they were regarded as being below the
minimum standard which should be observed in the case of meat intended for human
consumption. The Army Service Corps had rejected it, and it was sent to Smithfield,
due notice having been given, apparently for an authoritative opinion being expressed.
The infection of Argentine tongues with actinomycosis, which was referred to in
my last report, has been dealt with by increased supervision being exercised in the
country of export. Although these tongues are not yet free from infection, the
numbers showing lesions are considerably less.
No special difficulties have to be reported in respect of Australian meat.
The Dutch pig trade in consequence of the war has gradually declined, and at one
time the carcases of such as were received lacked several of the usual satisfactory
features from the point of view of condition and quality. Condition was affected by
delay, and the quality was more mixed than usual owing to internal conditions in
Holland resulting in pigs being consigned to London which are not usually forwarded.
Among other matters the question of inspection and packing of offal consigned
from Ireland formed the subject of correspondence. As an illustration of the loss
incurred by defective packing, 1 need only refer to a consignment examined by
Mr. Young on April 14th, which resulted in 134 livers, 140 spleens, 60 sweetbreads,
and 20 stone of ox-kidneys being surrendered on account ot decomposition.
I made enquiries as to the frequency and nature of defects observed among Dutch
pigs, and although I am not able to submit information relating to the whole year's
work, 1 found that out of 43,330 carcases consigned to one dealer during the nine weeks
of September and October, 39 were seized. None of these were on account of
tuberculosis, 28 carcases showed a hydrasmic condition, nine were decomposing, one
showed hemorrhagic spots, and one was killed in extremis. Five carcases out of the
same consignment had been seized by the Port Sanitary officials for reasons which it
was not possible to ascertain at the time of my enquiries. The facts are satisfactory.
I have continued the practice now of some years' standing of notifying the official
representative of the Government of the exporting country in cases where carcases
received from abroad have shown defects. As far as practicable negligence in inspection
lias been specifically mentioned in the few cases in which it seemed to exist; in other
instances where the defect could not have been recognised at the time of inspection, the
fact was stated.