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of that road. The names of the licensees, and the localities
of the licensed premises, are set out in Table XI (appendix).
The several premises were inspected, in July, by the Works,
Sanitary, and General Purposes Committee, who found
them to be in "good structural condition, and, as a rule,
well kept." There were some striking exceptions to the
rule, however, and the Committee were compelled to recommend
proceedings against two of the licensees for offences
against the bye-laws. The Magistrates did not convict even
in the worst case, although the offence was practically
admitted by the defendant as well as proved in evidence.
At some of the slaughter houses, business appears to have
been almost discontinued: compared with byegone years very
little slaughtering was seen to be going on. Wherever
animals were found in the lairs the Committee observed
with satisfaction that, in accordance with a frequently
repeated recommendation, water had been provided for their
use. Altogether, the state of matters in regard to the
slaughter houses has undergone a great improvement since
the passing of the Act in 1874; nevertheless, I am still of
opinion that private slaughter houses should give place
to public abattoirs, and that the dead meat trade should be
encouraged to the utmost possible extent. It would be
well, moreover, looking at the matter from the public health
point of view, could facilities be increased for bringing the
consumer into direct relations with the purveyor of frozen
meat imported from our colonies. This meat, which generally
is excellent in quality and condition, is sold, but too
often, under false colours, and at an unfairly high price, as
English meat.
It may be mentioned that the business of a slaughterer of
cattle has not been established anew in Kensington since the
passing of the Act, and that the number of private slaughter
houses in the Metropolis, which in 1874 was 1,420, had fallen,
in October 1883, to 809, and this without any evidence forthcoming
to show that inconvenience had arisen to the public,