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in carrying on a business which must always be a cause of nuisance
unless great care is observed in complying with the regulations.*
That there might be no mistake as to the object of the Bye-law, its requirements
are still further enforced by the 10th Bye-law, which requires every product of the
slaughtering of cattle to be removed from the premises before the same "have
become putrid or offensive."
In the light of these facts it is surprising to read in the last Annual Report
for 1880, of the Metropolitan Board of Works—The Local Authority
under the Slaughter-Houses (Metropolis) Act, 1874—that "in only one
case during the year was it found necessary to take proceedings against
the owner of a licensed slaughter-house for a breach of the Board's Byelaws."
The licensed slaughter-houses in the Metropolis, it may be
mentioned, are 903 in number.
At some of the licensed premises a dog is kept, contrary to provisions of
Bye-law 2. Your Committee do not suggest any action to be taken
with reference to the matter, although the apparent object of the Byelaw
was to prevent unnecessary defilement of the premises, and a possible
cause of obstruction to the Board's Officers when inspecting a slaughterhouse.
Your Committee found that the licensed premises had in some instances
changed hands since the license was granted, and the licenses not having
been transferred, the occupiers were slaughtering without a license, contrary
to the provisions of the 93rd Section of the Metropolis Local
Management Act (25 and 26 Vict., c. 102). In one instance the occupier
had possession of the license granted to his predecessor; in another case
the occupier had not even this semblance of authority for carrying on
his business.
Your Vestry had given formal notice of opposition to the renewal
of three licenses with a view to bring under the notice of the
Magistrates the fact that the applicants had been slaughtering for
some months without a license, they having taken over businesses,
* The Bye-laws read thus:—
"The occupier shall provide and keep a sufficient number of tubs, boxes, or
vessels, formed out of proper non-absorbent materials, with tight and
close-fitting covers thereto, for the purpose of receiving and conveying
away all manure, garbage, offal, and filth; and shall in all cases, immediately
after the killing and dressing of any cattle, cause all such manure,
garbage, offal, and 11th to be placed in such tubs, boxes, and vessels; and
shall cause all the blood arising from the slaughter of cattle to be put
into separate tubs, or vessels formed with the like materials as above,
with close-fitting covers, and every such tub, box, and vessel, together
with their contents, to be removed from the premises within 24 hours."