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64
This was the position throughout the country, and it had been
hoped that one of the benefits resulting from the war would be that
never again would the large number of slaughterhouses used before
the war be brought into use; but instead that killing would be concentrated
in a small number of buildings designed for the purpose,
and that all animals killed at these premises would be subjected to full
post-mortem examination.
A Circular in 1954 referred to the Government's 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 the circular 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 live-stock in July, 1954. "In the meantime it
was the duty of local authorities to make use of their powers to secure
that sufficient slaughtering accommodation would be available after
decontrol. 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."
Licensing of Slaughterhouses locally. At their meeting on June 1st
1954, the Public Health Committee resolved that licences be granted
to the slaughterhouses at 46 High Street, Wealdstone (L. Rance),
Dracotts, Stanmore Hill, Stanmore (M. Dixey), and Stanmore Hall
Farm, Dennis Lane, Stanmore (A. Keen); that the Committee would
be prepared to grant a licence in respect of 7 Northolt Road (H. E.
Wright) subject to satisfactory reconstruction; and that the application
in respect of 720 Honeypot Lane, Stanmore (G. Massey), be deferred.
Position under Slaughterhouses Act 1954. This Act repealed the
previous provisions about licensing and registration. Licences could now
be refused when the authority were not satisfied that the premises conform
with the requirements of section 13 of the Food and Drugs Act, and
of any regulations in force relating to hygiene. Authorities could licence
for periods greater than the maximum of thirteen months allowed by
the 1938 Act, provided the period did not go beyond 31st July, 1959.
The licences granted or renewed after the 30th June, 1956, remained
subject to the maximum period of thirteen months. No licences could
be granted to premises not used or licensed or registered as a slaughterhouse
at any time from 1st October, 1934, without the consent of the
Minister of Food.
Closure of Slaughterhouses. Section 61 of the 1938 Act enabled
a local authority which had provided a public slaughterhouse to close
some or all of the private slaughterhouses in the district. Section 4 of
the 1954 Act extended this power so that it could be exercised by a
local authority who had not provided a slaughterhouse, but which
was of the opinion that there was adequate alternative slaughtering
accommodation in a neighbouring district to meet the needs of the
district.