View report page

36
secure more adequate inspection of animals before and after
slaughter, more cleanly methods of handling the meat, and improvement
in the methods for protecting the meat from contamination by
dirt, dust, and flies, etc.
Copies of the Regulations were sent to butchers and others
in the District affected by them, and in the month of June
the Chairman of the General Purposes Committee and the
Medical Officer of Health arranged a Conference with the
local butchers which was held (at the Council Offices) in
order to discuss the Regulations and any difficulties the trade
might have in putting them into force. The representatives
of the trade expressed their approval of the Regulations and their
willingness to carry out the details required. There was one point
on which complete unanimity was not reached, and that was the
action necessary to protect meat exposed for sale from dust and
flies. It was suggested that glass fronts to the shops would be
required, and objection was raised to this on the ground that the
glass would prevent the free circulation of fresh air around the meat,
and that it would also raise the temperature and thus hasten
decomposition.
The following statement indicates that an effort is being made
to carry out the Regulations in an effective way: —
There are twenty-three Butchers' Shops and a large number of
general stores where bacon and hams are exposed for sale. In
every instance some attempt has been made to protect the meat
from dust and flies, either by glass covers, muslin covers, glass
fronts to the shops, or electric fans.
With regard to the butchers' shops, three have fitted new glass
fronts, six have installed fans, two have had movable glass fronts
for some time, one has fixed a glass front and a fan.
At the time the Regulations came into force there was one meat
stall in the street from which meat was sold, this has now been
given up so that there are no meat stalls in the street in any part
of the District.