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slaughter-houses throughout the country had virtually ceased. It had been
hoped that never again would the large numbers of slaughterhouses used
before the war again be brought into use, but that killing could be concentrated
in a small number of buildings designed for the purpose and which
would therefore be more satisfactory than those the Ministry of Food had
been continuing to use, and that all animals killed at these premises would
receive full post-mortem examination. The Government had erected
seven slaughterhouses at Guildford, Fareham, Grimsby, Swindon, Canterbury,
Wimborne and Salisbury. Another is scheduled for Sunderland.
Apart from these Plymouth has built its own slaughterhouse since the
war. In 1938 the report of the Livestock Committee suggested that an
abattoir should serve an area of radius 15 to 25 miles.
Circular MF.5/54 of the 24th March, 1954, set out the principles
to be taken into account by an authority considering the licensing and
provision of slaughterhouses for the period immediately following the
decontrol of meat and livestock in July. The Government had already
announced its intention to bring about concentration of slaughtering
facilities throughout the country, though it was recognised that the
long-term policy would take some years to apply. In the meantime it
was the duty of local authorities to make use of their powers to secure
that efficient slaughtering accommodation would be available after
decontrol. The responsibility for licensing slaughterhouses in the
interim period was to remain with the local authorities of the districts
in which the slaughterhouses were situated. When dealing with applications
for the grant or renewal of licences local authorities were to consider
whether, having regard to the accessibility and capacity of public
slaughtering accommodation in its own district or in the district of a
neighbouring authority, the privately owned slaughterhouses were
required.
In the summer then local authorities were faced with a problem of
what to do when the Ministry of Food ceased on 29th June, to be
responsible for the slaughter of animals. There had to be adequate
facilities for killing and in the meantime local authorities were receiving
many applications for the renewal of the licensing of premises in their
areas which had been used for this purpose just before the war.
At their meeting on the 1st June the Public Health Committee
resolved "that, subject to the premises complying with the requisite
standard, licences, pursuant to Section 57 of the Food and Drugs Act,
1938, be granted to the applicants concerned:—
Applicant
Louis Rance, 46, High Street,
Wealdstone
M. Dixey, Bushey Hall Road,
Bushey
Angus Keen, High Street, Stanmore
Location of Slaughterhouse
46, High Street, Wealdstone.
Dracotts, Stanmore Hill, Stanmore.
Stanmore Hall Farm, Dennis Lane,
Stanmore.
That Mr. H. E. Wright, of 7, Northolt Road, South Harrow, be
informed that, subject to the reconstruction of his former slaughterhouse