View report page

14
ing inhabitants, and serious nuisances prejudicial to health
are likely to arise.
The Metropolitan Building Act, 1844, provides that
after the passing of the Act, no person shall carry on the
business of a slaughterer of cattle (amongst other businesses
enumerated) within 40 feet of a public way, or within 50
feet of a dwelling-house, and that upon the expiration of 30
years after the passing of the Act, it shall be unlawful to
carry on any business of the kind within the above-mentioned
distances.
The removal of private slaughter-houses would be a
hardship to some individuals, but the system of public
abattoirs in central places with railway accommodation would
be advantageous to the public. The system of public abattoirs
has worked well wherever adopted; it has obviated the necessity
of driving cattle through the streets, and has thus
prevented cruelty to animals and danger to the public. It
has, under proper inspection, prevented the sale of diseased
meat. It has abolished the nuisances so often complained
of in private slaughter-houses; meat has kept better; and
it is said that the price of meat under this system has
diminished. Edinburgh has had no private slaughter-houses
since 1851, and only one public abattoir. In Cardiff, in
Glasgow, in Paris, in Berlin, private slaughter-houses have
been discontinued with great advantage to the inhabitants.
If private establishments of this kind are to be perpetuated
in this District, it would be a great advantage if
stringent regulations were made as to the necessary area of
buildings and enclosures; the cubic space, height, and privacy
of buildings; light; ventilation; provision of lay-stalls; the
daily removal of offal and blood, and where these are to be
removed to and deposited; as to water supply, and efficient
drainage; any deviation from which should involve the loss
of license.
Contagious Cattle Diseases.—The Contagious Cattle
Diseases (Animals) Act, 1869, had for its object the prevention
of the entry or spread of infectious diseases amongst cattle