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94
The Urban District Council of Yiewsley and West Drayton suggested
that a municipal slaughterhouse erected by them in that locality to serve
the authorities in West Middlesex and part of Buckinghamshire might
be the best way of implementing locally the long-term slaughtering
policy of the Ministry of Food. As they had already decided to issue
licences to the owners of some private slaughterhouses in the Borough,
the Public Health Committee could not support the proposal. They
did agree, however, to send a representative to attend a conference on
the matter.
By the Slaughter of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954, which came
into force on 1st October, 1954, a licence granted for the use of premises
for the slaughter of horses is invalid unless it expressly authorises the
use of the premises for the purpose. Provision is also made for the
licensing of premises used for the confinement of animals awaiting
slaughter outside the curtilage of the premises used for slaughter.
Sanitation of Slaughterhouses. The byelaws of the former
Harrow Urban District Council confirmed on the 20th February, 1936,
and which came into operation on the 21st April, 1936, dealt with the
licensing and registering of slaughterhouses, for keeping the same in a
cleanly and proper state, for removing the filth at least once in every
24 hours and requiring such slaughterhouses to be provided with a
sufficient supply of water.
Prevention of Cruelty. The Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933,
requires that:—
(a) Animals must be stunned before slaughter by a mechanically-
operated instrument (there is exemption for Jews and
Mohammedans).
(b) The requirement as to stunning does not apply to sheep unless
the local authority apply it by resolution. Goats can be excluded
by resolution.
(c) No animal may be slaughtered or stunned in a slaughterhouse
or knacker's yard by any person who is not the holder of a
licence granted by a local authority (these licences are issued
by the authorities of the areas in which the applicants live, not
where they work. Each year before the war, about five
slaughtermen were licensed).
(d) Persons engaged in slaughtering are required to house, feed,
drive and fix animals in such a manner as to prevent unnecessary
suffering prior to or during slaughter.
The Slaughter of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954, empowers the
Minister of Food to make regulations for securing humane conditions
and practices in connection with the slaughter of animals at slaughterhouses
and knacker's yards. Also, except in the case of animals
slaughtered for food for Jews or Mohammedans, licences granted to
slaughtermen must specify the kinds of animals which may be slaughtered
by the holders of the licences and the types of instrument which may
be used. Licences authorising the slaughter of horses will be valid only
in the district of the local authority granting the licences. Section