AN APPEAL TO ENGLISH GENTILES
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Some time ago, under the heading, " An Appeal to British Jews," you urged the Jewish authorities to adopt the Weinberg Casting Pen, a machine designed to prevent the infliction of suffering when cattle are being cast for slaughter by the Jewish method. Incredible difficulties stood in the way of a satisfactory trial of this invention, but they have recently been overcome. The inventor's claims have been triumphantly vindicated, and the Jewish authorities are taking prompt measures for the general adoption of his casting pen. They have very fully, upheld the Jewish reputation for humaneness by the generous and energetic course they have pursued. This result was made possible by the exertions of Professor Frederick Hobday, Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, and by the confi- dence in his fairness which was felt by all concerned.
The Jews, then, are setting their slaughterhouse in order; the Scots did the same in 1928, when they accepted the use of the humane killer (subject to certain exemptions) as imposed by the Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act ; the. English will have their chance on February 7th next, when the Slaughter of Animals Bill will reach its second reading. Now the only argument against humane slaughter which has not been refuted by official investigations, conducted by public authorities, is this—that humane slaughter involves an increase of a fraction of a halfpenny in the pound sterling in the cost of production of meat. Are the English prepared to sell their consciences at that price, by throwing out the bill ? If so, Jews and Scotsmen will be obliged to withdraw from circulation the many time-honoured stories which they have fabricated at their own and one another's expense.—
I am, Sir, &c., C. W. HUME. [This letter has been shortened. We are glad to record this achievement of progressive Jewry, and we echo our correspon- dent's challenge.—Ed. Spectator.]
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