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53
THE PUBLIC HEALTH (MEAT) REGULATIONS, 1924.
Progress under these Regulations has been slow. The results obtained were, however,
substantial, although somewhat less than they would have been but for the industrial
disputes which occurred during the year.
The General Strike was attended and followed by a transitional period of emergency
arrangements and measures of reorganization, during which it was deemed desirable to
suspend the strict application of certain clauses of the Regulations relating to the transport
and handling of meat. During the strike period supplies and transport at Smithfield were
maintained under the direction of an Emergency Committee. The distribution of meat
from the market was carried out by auxiliary services, and by individuals with vehicles
under their own supervision. Having regard to all the circumstances, commendable care
was taken by everyone concerned to protect meat from contamination.
The effects of the Coal Strike were not so apparent as those of the dispute in May, but
numerous instances were found in which proposed improvements of premises or of meatcarrying
vehicles were delayed until more normal conditions of business should once more
be established.
The embargo placed upon foreign fresh meat in May was also followed by a lengthy
period of reorganization, during which fresh sources of supply had to be found in Great
Britain and Ireland. The necessary transport arrangements for these new supplies are
developing satisfactorily and give promise of improvement as the business becomes more
established.
Shops and Stores.—The supervision of shops and stores used in connection with the
sale of meat, bacon, ham, etc., has been continued, and an all-round improvement of these
premises can be recorded. In seven instances extensive alterations were undertaken to
comply with the Regulations, and in three instances premises were voluntarily renovated
and remodelled.
The rule adopted for the display of meat in retail shops was that it should be kept
within the permanent frontage line of the premises and be given the additional protection
afforded by overhead blinds and side screens whenever necessary.
The number of retail shops and stores on the Register at the end of 1926 was 76.
Stalls.-—With the exception of six stalls used in connection with the wholesale Jewish
meat market at Aldgate, there are no meat stalls within the City area. These six, moreover,
are removed by 8 a.m. daily, but they have been regularly inspected in order to see that
the requirements applicable to them were complied with.
Transport and, Handling of Meat.— Continuous supervision has been exercised over
the methods of transport and handling of meat at Smithfield Market, Aldgate, the RailwayDepots
and through the City streets. Some progress has been made in this direction, but
much remains to be done before a uniformly satisfactory compliance with the Regulations
is secured.
(a) Vehicles.—The type of vehicle used for meat carrying is undergoing a gradual
change. The hand barrows used at Aldgate are fewer. The meat vans generally are
slowly improving, but there is still a tendency to perpetuate undesirable features of construction
in new vehicles ; and up to the present there is little evidence of improvement
in those which have been submitted for repair or renewal. There are, however, signs that
the new scale of taxes for motor vehicles, to come into operation in 1927, may give an impetus
to the construction of light-weight vans and so provide an opportunity for accelerating
the progress which is desirable in vehicles used for the distribution of meat.
One noteworthy instance may be quoted of definite advancement. A firm of meat
carriers at Smithfield has designed a vehicle which is the most satisfactory yet seen. The
inside of the body is metal lined, with rounded corners to eliminate dirt-collecting crevices.
Small sectional wooden racks cover the bottom, and these can be laid down progressively as
loading proceeds. Ventilation is obtained by means of gauze-covered louvred openings
in the back and front. Specially placed openings in the floor serve as outlets for water
used for cleansing purposes. After some three months' use the van is still giving results
which fully justified the methods of construction employed. Other vehicles of this type
will be brought into use as circumstances permit.
The use of straw in connection with the transport of unwrapped meat is slowly decreasing.
In the absence of any specific power to prohibit straw as such, recourse has been had to
methods of persuasion and the constant reiteration of its disadvantages for this work.
Prosecutions have been instituted in cases where the straw so used was obviously dirty.
There seems to be scope in the designing of new vehicles for the inclusion of facilities for
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