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Regulations, however, enabled accurate records to be kept,
and it was found that the actual number for 1925 was nearly
four times the estimate. Since 1925 the amount of slaughtering
in the Borough has increased by 40.3 per cent. The
following figures show the increase year by year:—
1924 2,000 (Estimate number before
mencement of Meat Regulations.)
1925 7,672
1926 7,636
1927 8,350
1928 11,093
With the exception of a few sheep and goats, every
animal slaughtered in the Borough was examined, despite
the fact that a considerable portion of the killing was carried
out during late afternoons and evenings and on Saturday
afternoons and Sundays.
The work of inspection is not confined to the examination
of animals slaughtered in the Borough. All and every
kind of food premises, such as restaurants, sausage-making
rooms, ice-cream premises, etc., etc., are visited. The total
visits to premises having relation to the food supply during
1928 was 2,588.
This large increase may be attributed to various causes.
One neighbouring authority has no slaughterhouse at all, and
in other nearby districts, the amount of slaughtering is
comparatively small. Again, the removal of the cattle
market to the present position has resulted in a larger
number of animals being sent in for sale. Frequently it is
more convenient for butchers from other districts to have
the animals slaughtered in Kingston than to convey them to
their premises alive. For this reason, and also owing to the
fact that there are several dealers in the town, a large
proportion of the meat inspected at the slaughterhouses is
not consumed in the Borough, but is sent to other localities.
Records are kept of all notices received, the number of
animals slaughtered, the time of inspection and the result of
the inspection.
The following table is a summary of all notices for the
year 1928 and reflects the very considerable amount of time
devoted to this work.