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In two cases Tuberculous glands were found in the neck, the disease
being limited absolutely to these glands. In these cases the carcase was
not condemmed.
In one case the neck glands had been removed prior to the inspection.
No sign of disease was found in the rest of the animal.
Pig-Keeping.
For many years the condition of premises used for keeping large numbers
of pigs had been the source of constant complaint from persons living in the
neighbourhood of them. In spite of frequent inspections, constant warnings
and occasional prosecutions, it was impossible to prevent nuisances arising from
places where pigs were kept in any number. There are many such places in the
district; when they were first started they were away from inhabited houses,
and any nuisance they might cause was not a serious matter. But the growth
of population and spread of building areas caused houses to be built much
closer to the pig establishments, and greatly increased the number of people
affected by the nuisance. Under the bye-laws of the district no pigs might be
kept at a distance of less than 60 feet from any dwelling house, but any number
might be kept 61 or more feet away. The only remedy for the nuisance suffered
by a large and increasing number of inhabitants of the district that would be
permanent seemed to be the removal of the cause, and the Council, therefore,
drew up and adopted a new bye-law making it illegal to keep more than three
pigs over the age of 12 weeks, within a distance of 180 feet of any two or more
dwelling houses. This bye-law was sanctioned by the Local Government
Board, to become operative in February, 1906.
It was most strongly opposed by those interested in the trade, but it is
only necessary to read the text of the altered bye-law to see that no real hardship
is inflicted by it on anybody. There is plenty of vacant land far removed
from any house to which the large pig-breeding and keeping establishments can
be removed if they are affected by it. The farmer who keeps a number of pigs
can continue to do so if his is the only house within 180 feet of his nearest
pig-sty. The cottager who has one pig and breeds one or two litters a year
may still do so, provided that he sells the young ones before they reach the
age of 12 weeks. He was not allowed previously to build a pig-sty within 60