Town Abattoirs
The idea of a central abattoir in Katanning was first discussed in May of 1928 due to concerns over public health. It seems that nothing was to become of this proposal and it wasn’t until the 1970’s that such an abattoir would be built in the district.
TOWN ABATTOIRS.
Great Southern Herald
26 May 1928 – P2
Recently, a meeting was held at the offices of the Katanning Road Board, at which members of a special committee and the master butchers of the town were present, for the purpose of discussing the establishment of a town abattoir, as an alternative to each butcher bringing his privately owned slaughter yard into line with regulations governing the slaughter and sale of animals for human consumption.
This meeting was adjourned to enable the Inspector, Mr. Cliff, to prepare plans and estimates of public abattoirs for the information of the Committee and a schedule of improvements which the master butchers would be called up on to provide if their respective slaughter yards were to be continued with. This report has not yet been made public, so that aspect of the case cannot be touched upon, but the question of public abattoirs as an alternative to private slaughter yards is one that should be of interest to ratepayers and residents of the town generally.
Up to the time the Board appointed a Meat Inspector, it can be said that no very great thought was given to the provision of meat for human consumption. It was taken for granted that the meat was wholesome, and the conditions of killing were satisfactory. Apparently, this was a case of ignorance being bliss, for from preliminary reports submitted by the Inspector, it is evident that diseases common to animals are present in the district capable of being detected only by a person qualified in veterinary science.
No question is raised that the master butchers knowingly offer for sale meat unfit for human consumption, but the Inspector is quite clear on the point that there are animals sold to the butchers for meat which are not up to the standard set by regulations and it is very necessary for the protection of public health to enforce rigid inspection of all carcasses, under conditions of slaughter guaranteed to provide a safeguard against the possibility of infection from outside agencies.
As the work of inspection is an arduous one, requiring time if it is to be carried out efficiently, and the regulations in respect of slaughter yards very stringent, it is a question whether it would not be more economical for the master butchers, as well as the Board, to establish in a central position a public abattoir for general use. The fact that the Board undertook the establishment of the abattoir under the direction of the Public Health Department would ensure the erection of the buildings and appurtenances in full compliance with regulations and with a view to safeguard the butchers and the public to the utmost degree.
The chief objection of the establishment of a central premises, as put forward by the master butchers, is that it would entail extra droving from their own holding paddocks to the abattoirs, but as such provision must result in bettered conditions, both for the butchers and consumers, doubtless it would be found that the benefits more than compensated the possible disabilities.
The Board, as representing the ratepayers, would have to assure itself that the proposition was a business one, front the standpoint of return for expenditure, but here again the benefit to public health would have to be taken into consideration in coming to a decision.