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68
It is suggested that some members of the committee might be
nominated to meet to discuss with representatives of the Retail Meat
Traders' Association and also of some of the larger firms who have
butchers' shops in this district."
Views of Town Planning Committee. The Planning Committee
who had received a petition asking for the closure of a slaughterhouse
on Stanmore Hill, asked that consideration be given to the provision of a
public abattoir to serve the needs of the Borough. The Public Health
Committee favoured the provision of a central slaughterhouse or abattoir
in the Borough, suggesting a suitable site might be earmarked at the former
Great Stanmore sewage farm.
Renewal of Licences. When the applications for the renewal of
licences of four slaughterhouses were considered by the Public Health
Committee at their January meeting, they agreed to the renewal of that
at 7 Northolt Road, South Harrow, but deferred consideration of the
other three. At the March Meeting the licence of the slaughterhouse
at High Street, Wealdstone, was renewed to the 30th June to give the
owner an opportunity of carrying out the necessary work. At a later
meeting licences were granted in respect of the slaughterhouses at Dennis
Lane, Stanmore and at Stanmore Hill.
Hygiene in Slaughterhouses. Under the Slaughterhouses (Hygiene)
Regulations, 1958, which came into operation on January 1st, 1959, all
new slaughterhouses in England and Wales will have to comply with
requirements of construction and equipment, cleanliness, and personal
hygiene of employees. Existing slaughterhouses will not have to comply
with the Regulation about construction until dates to be agreed between
the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Local Authority.
Other matters covered under these Regulations are precautions to be
taken with animals and meat that may be unfit, and the disposal of
unpleasant by-products.
Prevention of Cruelty. The Slaughter of Animals (Prevention of
Cruelty) Regulations, 1958, which also came into operation on January
1st, 1959, are designed to reinforce the 1954 Regulations of the same name.
The most important amendment is that all adult cattle must now be killed
in a stunning pen. Existing slaughterhouses and knackers' yards in
England and Wales have not yet to comply with those Regulations
entailing construction. The responsibility for enforcing the Regulations
rests with local authorities.
Pigs slaughtered in England and Wales may be anaesthetized, in
special installations, by carbon dioxide gas, under the Slaughter of Pigs
(Anaesthesia) Regulations, 1958, which came into operation on 1st
December. The installations work on the principle of conveying the pig
into a chamber containing carbon dioxide, where it becomes insensible
in a few moments. The dose is not lethal, but renders the pig unconscious
until slaughtered. Some of the safeguards included in the Regulations are.
the local authority must be satisfied before the installation may be used,