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The Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924.—These
Regulations came into operation 011 the 1st April, 1925, and
include a number of new provisions which are of great
importance. One of the chief provisions is the obligation 011
the part of butchers to give notice of intended slaughter so
that carcases and organs of all animals slaughtered for human
consumption can be inspected prior to their being offered for
sale.
In this connection 1 would mention that it is necessary
for a Local Authority to designate an Officer to whom such
notices are to be sent. Advertisements to the effect that I
was appointed the Officer, appeared in the local papers as
required.
There are several other provisions with respect to meat,
as well as butchers' shops generally, dealing mainly with the
protection of all meat exposed for sale. Although the
regulations do not stipulate definitely that these shops should
be provided with glass windows, it appears to me to be the
only effectual means of preventing contamination from dust.
As a result of conversation with several of the local butchers,
I am pleased to report that in seven eases closed fronts have
been constructed where the shops had previously been open,
and I have every reason to hope that the remainder will fall
into line in the near future.
As one would expect, some little difficulty has been
experienced, but this is gradually being overcome. No
breaches of the regulations have had to be reported to the
Local Authority.
Rent (Restrictions) Acts, 1920 & 1923.—Under these Acts
twenty-seven applications were received from occupiers of
premises requesting that inspections be made, as in their
opinion the owners had failed in their obligations. In each
case, a complete survey of the house, both internal and
external, was made, and a notice prepared specifying the
works to be executed in order to make the premises in all
respects reasonably tit for human habitation.
The applications were submitted to the Committee,
together with a report as to the conditions existing, and in
each case the issuing of a certificate was authorised. In six
cases the certificates were subsequently issued as the works
required to be done had not been satisfactorily executed.
In one case a request was received from the owner's
solicitors that the matter be permitted to stand over pending
the hearing of his case in the County Court. After hearing
the circumstances, the Committee acceded to the request.
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