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wholesale replacement, or reconstruction, of these conveyances, and certain efficient alternatives
were, therefore, recognised as temporarily satisfactory. The following examples may
be mentioned:—
Covered vehicles, with openings at the back or front, should be provided with
a waterproof sheet, attached to the top of the vehicle, and capable of being placed
in position to close the opening during the carrying of meat. A detachable sheet
of washable material should be suspended on the inside to prevent the waterproof
sheet coming into contact with meat carried.
Open vehicles should be provided with a washable inner cloth to enclose the
meat, and with a waterproof outer cover large enough to afford adequate protection
to the open portion of the conveyance. Hand barrows should be provided with
sufficient washable covering material to protect the underneath as well as the sides
and top of meat carried ; a stout waterproof sheet should be used as an outer
cover. If the barrow be close-boarded underneath and at the sides an inner and
outer top covering will suffice if securely attached.
The insides of all vehicles used for carrying meat should have smooth surfaces,
be free from crevices and clean.
Straw, owing to its doubtful origin, is not considered suitable for use on the
floors of meat vehicles unless covered with a washable cloth to prevent the straw
coming into contact with the meat carried.
The floors of large vehicles should be provided with wooden racks to form a
false bottom, the racks to be progressively lowered into position as loading proceeds.
A washable cloth, if unrolled as required, may meet requirements, if the use of
racks is found impracticable.
Impervious linings should be used in all vehicles carrying offal.
Cut surfaces of bacon should be protected, during transit, and vehicles used for
transport of bacon and hams should conform to the requirements for meat vehicles
as to the use of straw for floor covering and packing.
The requirements relating to the wearing of overalls should apply to all persons
engaged in the handling of meat, including the drivers of railway and other vans
delivering meat to the market who assist in the unloading of meat.
The expression "in or about a market" includes the vicinity in which loading
and unloading take place, and the area served by vehicles used entirely for market
purposes.
At wharves and railway depots men handling meat should wear overalls as a
precaution against the exposure of meat to contamination
Some progress has been made and, although, a reluctance was at first manifest in sections
of the less responsible elements to comply with certain of the requirements, they have, on
the whole, been well carried out.
In October, the Sanitary Committee considered the time had arrived when more serious
notice should be taken of infringements and accordingly legal proceedings were authorised.
The cases selected for prosecution consisted of two groups—vehicle offences, and the absence
of any overall and head covering by persons carrying meat. Penalties were inflicted in each
case.
Difficulties are always experienced in the early stages of administration of progressive
health measures, and the Public Health (Meat) Regulations have proved no exception to this
rule. The policy in the City has been to avoid anything in the nature of unreasonable official
action, and to concentrate upon those matters which most urgently needed attention, the less
serious aspects being left for subsequent consideration.
A continuous improvement should be seen now it is realised that compliance will be
enforced, if necessary. It is expected that co-operation will be obtained without coercion, and
the Regulations will come to be recognised as a help, rather than a hindrance to the best
interests of the meat trade generally.
TUBERCULOSIS ORDER (No. 2), 1925.—MEAT INSPECTION.
The Tuberculosis Order of 1925 (No. 2), made by the Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries, in August last, amended the Tuberculosis Order, 1925, which came into operation
on the 1st September.
This latter Order provided for the slaughter of animals affected with certain specified
forms of Tuberculosis.