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CITY'S MEAT SUPPLY.
The Growing Consumption.
Abattoirs Revenue Jumps
Fsnnn
Tlio revenue derived hy tho City Council
from slaughtering dues nt the city atai-
toiis for the y<»r 1022 showed an increase
of £7S42, compared with that of the pre
ceding year. With the rapid growth of
the city tho consumption of meat in the
metropolitan area is constantly increasing,
but this growth does not entire")' explain
the grcnt incruqso noted. The exception
ally heavy slaughtering is attributed msinl;
to the large numbers of stock sent forward
last month by anxious graziers in the north
prior to tho recent rains, ami. moreover, s
considerable qttnntily of live slock vrss
slaughtered for export purposes. Sheep
and lambs killed for export totalled 143, '.'S3,
compared with 483 in 1021, but on the
other hand catl'.e decreased from 314 to 2)
iieud.
Live Stock Slaughtered.
Hie figures o i slock slaughtered during
the past throe years were us under;—
' 1020. 1021. 1K2
Cattle ooon.. I«.UI7.. Ill, ,11
calves 22.210.. 10.1130. . lti.tm
Pis, 1H.782.. tU.ll.'>.. si:,
dti-ep 1.141, .l.au.r.18. .1,831, sit
B'niiKtilarinu Pace — it)20, £22.739; ItQI,
£22.030; lUttt. £20.878.
Repairs ami renewals to the --iter pipes
at the abattoirs were carried »ut during
the year at a cost of £000.
Carcases Chilled.
The number of cureascs chilled was as
under:—
1020. 1021. 1022
liccf .. 83. IDS .. l&VH
Veal 10.-10! .. 12.433 .. UUX
PurS 8.177 .. 0,32) .. 12,»!
Mutton 4 Ito, 287 .. 80S .MO .. Vb.J.'J
Itevamio: 1020. £12.183; 1021. £12,212; 192
£13.812
Members of the committee are gratified
with the increases in ud chitKis of stuck,
as special efforts have been made dur.ug
the paul lew yea i s to iiojm.arisc tlio chill
ing of meat in the interests of public
health, more especially in view of tho lack
of legislation to .deal with the matter. It
is anticipated that the aluttoirs will iu
future 'return -a small profit to the coun
cil, instead of the heavy losses experienced
during past years. During the year 2304
tons of blood manure and 45 tons poultry
meal were manufactured, of which 1710
tons were so.d. The revenue from this
source was £13.297. 'comp trod with £13.733
in 1021 nnd £14,40!) in 1920. The whole of
the offal could not be treated at the desic
cating works owing to tho shortage of
plant. A contract had been let for tho
construction of two additional units of
dryers, at a cost of. £5880. and the ne«
machines will bo completed this year. The
stock of manure on band at 31st Decem
ber was 040 tons.
Ravenue from Live Stock Markets.
The revenue from the sheep and cattle
markets showed an increase of £S824, tin
figures being as under: —
Cuttle. Shfep. Iten
1020. . ... 23-..134 .. 8.2IAW3 .. fKjtJ
1021 .. .. 185,7 8 .. 2.0 0.32 .. a- 22 JO
1022 .. .. 210.100 .. 0,438.1.0.1 '.. £2tJM
The agitation commenced in 1921 by
tbo Chamber of Agriculture for tbo re
moval of the stock markets outside the
city area continued during the year, states
the committeo in its annual report. A
conference wes- convened by the Kanwsf
department of representatives of sll in
terested parries, with a view to improving
the treiuqiorL of stock into the markets,
as a result of which decisions were' ar
rived at which' the Rnihvay department
has since put into operation with fairly
satisfactory results. In January Inst,
conference was convened by the.Oakle'jpi
council of representatives of municipalities
in that district to consider the question
of the establishment of cattle salo ysnls
between Oakloigb and Clayton. Repre
sentatives of tlie council attended the con
ference, and ;a committee wns nppomtca
to consider the matter. Up to ds'q
however, nothing further has M»
done. During the year, the chum
man and the town dork had several in"
views with tlie I'remier, and asked tna»
the Government state definitely "s inten
tions in regard to the questton of ttta
removal of tlie abnttoirs and stock mar
kets," in order that tho committee may te
in a position to advise the council ui cow
ncction with necessary improvements ana
extensions at these establishments. IM
Premier gave the chairman and the l<»
Clerk a verbal assurance that the Govern
ment would raise no objection to the in
stallation of additional machinery, Ae je
enable tbe council to condnct tho utile
ties in s satisfactory condition, tn orcur.
to cope with existing requirement. «
stated further that ho would make a pM-
onal visit of inspection to the estaulisa
mcnts witli a view to discussing ths wuota
matter on tho spot. No nrrangcmenw
have, however, been made so far m tos
direction indicated. In order to rociliwte
the working of 'the cattle yards the com
mittee line authoris.ed tbe eztenmon oj
"B" lane by about CO yards. Authority
has also been given -for the erection, w
stabtas for ' the drovers' horses.. Toeso
works will be curried out this year- ,
The revenue from the horse,, cow ana
pig market wns £4805. Pigs
through the market showed on '"crease
from .80,310 to 113,524, and cattle, from
64, 0"0 to 63.090. A new provision m «M
ITcolth Act whereby certain meat may as
branded by . a local meat inspector at im .
place of slaughtering, instead of by tns
council's staff, hnd boon responsible for
decrease from £1001 to .£953 ffom.wif
source of- -revenue. Under the .P1.0.1'!'!'
of the 'Melbourne General Market Mnat;
Act, the' cpuncil' is subject to f
months' notice by the .Government to «
cats the market on the payment to tn.
councB of £10.000. . In orfer thattM
committee may be in a position to - enmw
with such notice when received, action oas
already Be«i taken to improve wttb oa
ing the proposed site of the new ,mar«%
nnd preliminary plans ore now be_R,2 '
pared for consideration hy the commltre
. During the yenr the officer
tlie licensing of butchers vehicles liiontel
790 vehicles for the emivevua"'
ease ment. A number of preteMW
were necessary during tlie yenr, jno n .
and Costa amounting to .£!7 J7/5 were
inflicted. . In addition this officer ,
proceedings in a number of- caste ""
the general by-lawn, and fines taijolt
amounting to £116 6/ were-umictod. .
The- total revenue fram »IMha.et»i>,
lishmcnta .under the- control ! of ..tnseMw
mittee was:— 1920, £85,604; 1021. «»®'»
1022, £91,500.
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