HUMANE SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS FOR ENGLAND
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have just seen, on my return from Geneva, where we have an International Animal Protection Bureau, Mr. R. 0. -11; Paddison's letter in your issue of October 13th.
I beg to differ froin Mr. Paddison, and I am glad to see that he specifically states that he does not in WS letter represent: the 'body of the R.S.P.C.A., for I fear his letter Will' but hearten the recalcitrant and retrograde section of the meat trade opposition to humaner methods of slaughter. One wonders if he considers the meat traders "of England so 'stupid that what can be learnt by Swiss, SWedish, and many other foreigners with ease cannot be understood by Englishmen.- _ We. Of -• the Animal' Defence Society have instructed 'many Slatightermen of this and other countries in the use- Of the humane -killer, and we do not find the intelligence of the English 'butcher in this respect to be 'below that of the foreign' butcher.
So far from the country not being ready for a Government Bill, the time is long overdue for statutory law. England has :long been looked uponas the pioneer in humanity to animals; :but in: this matter 'of the slaughter of animals to provide.' the :food: of the people she - lags far behind other Countries such as Switzerland, Sweden,- and Germany. It is Personally a- source of great joy to me that Scotland has
led the way in this first step of humanity to animals by the passing this-.summer of. the Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Bill, but I feel it is an insult to her sister country to say that she is so behind in the cause of humanity..
At present there is no law in England to regulate methods of slaughtering' animals for food. Had there been such a law, the cruel machine (copied from abroad and used in many pig factories) which' hoists pigs, fully conscious, by Means of a slip noose round one hind leg, on to a revolving wheel for slaughter, would never have been allowed. Neither would such cases be possible as that of the young inexperienced grandson of a butcher, who killed a cow as best he could with a pick-axe (he came before the Court, not because of the cruelty in the killing,but because of the badness of the meat); nor, again, the case where a pig was hit seven times with the pole-axe. There was no prosecution because there is no law respecting how animals should be killed for meat. Not only does the animal suffer from the pain of a misdirected blow, but the wrenching out of the pole-axe causes it further agony.
In order to demonstrate in a practical manner the principles of humanity to the animals killed for food, the hygienic treatment of the meat, and the well-being of the men employed, we of the Animal Defence Society have built a model humane abattoir at Letchworth. We have the building ready, we have the machinery and equipment ; we only wait to clear the building fund. Kind friends who care for animals all over the country have sent their contribu. tions, but we have £17,000 yet to raise to clear the debt on ' the building fund. This is a national undertaking, and eVeryone in every parish and town in England who cares for animals should give their share to enable us to open the abattoir. We should like to have it working by Christmas.
This abattoir will be of the greatest use when the Bill for Humane Slaughter of Animals for England is again before Parliament, to demonstrate to Members of Parliament and others the simplicity and practicability of humane methods, and, after the passing of the Bill, to instruct slaughtermen in the use of the modern instruments. For this model abattoir, with its lecture hall, gives every facility for teaching any who may need to learn. The abattoir will trade on business lines, thus demonstrating that humane methods pay best on all planes. Already medical officers of health and deputations from different towns in Great Britain and from all over the world have visited the abattoir and paid tribute to its worth and its practical purpose.
Mr. John T. Robertson, the well-known Scottish meat trader, writes of his visit to the Letchworth abattoir in the Scottish Butchers' Journal : Situated in the industrial quarter of this beautiful garden city is the model abattoir, and let me say here that this is a splendid place. I had expected to see a sort of toy house, a Noah's Ark of our childhood days, but he who comes to laugh remains to praise. The conception and erection of this place is an example to all engaged in the meat industry . . . showing what an abattoir can be. ft is a vision of things to come ; the comfort of both man and beast has been attended to down to the minutest detail.
When the abattoir was completed this summer, you, Mr. Editor, were the first to express your valued appreciation of the building and of its great purpose. And now we want the people of England to help us to open it, to show that humane killing and the humane treatment of animals in slaughterhouses can be successfully carried out, and to show, also, that England is not behind. I ask all those who care enough to help in this important practical step to send their contributions (cheques crossed Midland Bank Ltd. ") to the Hon. Treasurer, Abattoir Futid, A. 'lima! Defence Society 35 Old Bond Street, London. W. 1. I feel sure that readers of the Spectator would wish to help us in this practical step in a great national reform.—I am, Sir, &e., NINA HAMILTON AND BRANDON (President Animal Defence Society).
[We hope that everyone interested in the introduction of humane killing into this country will help the Duchess of Hamilton to clear off the debt of £17,000, so that the model abattoir at Letchworth can be started by Christmas.—ED. Spectaior.11
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