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47
the other tenants or the landlord is at least as great as the
cost of keeping the premises in the sanitary condition required
by the bye-laws.
If the conditions imposed by the bye-laws are carried out,
no doubt one of the best methods for preventing overcrowding
is thus achieved.
During the month of March a copy of the bye-laws was left
at each house and 73 notices were served requiring cleansing
of rooms, passages, staircases and provisions of extra watercloset
accommodation. In two cases proceedings were taken
for non-compliance with the bye-laws and penalties were
inflicted in each case.
Slaughter-house s.
With regard to the abolition of private slaughter-houses
suggested by the Public Health Committee of the London
County Council, a letter was received from the Meat and
Cattle Trade Section of the London Chamber of Commerce and
the London Butchers' Trade Society, dated 5th November respectively,
forwarding copy letter and petition addressed to the
London County Council, protesting against the scheme for the
abolition of private slaughter-houses and the establishment of
public abattoirs.
As the result of a full consideration of the question, the
Committee have to report that they have every reason to be
satisfied with the condition of the slaughter-houses in West
minster, and therefore see no necessity for alteration in the
present system.
The opinion of the Medical Officer of the London County
Council is that in order to insure the inspection of meat killed
in London, it is absolutely necessary that all animals should
be killed in public slaughter-houses, where alone an adequate
and systematic inspection of the meat could be made. The
chief arguments raised against the proposed abolition are:—
" The extent of the area which would be required for an
abattoir in which to kill all the animals now slaughtered
in the numerous private establishments; the cost of buildings
and machinery; the storage room required in which
the meat could "set" after killing; the amount of lairage
which would be necessary in order that cattle might rest
after a journey before they are killed; and the probable
gross amount of extra labour, which the butchering trade
would have to employ to conduct one part of their business
in many cases a number of miles away from their
retailing establishments."