Works reported that the only Gouneil-owned Jand available in the Eastern district for the construction of an abattoir for pigs was on Whashing Road next to the Yangchow-Whashing Roads Branch Health Offic, and that the estimated cost of erection of the abattoir would be Tls. 6,000. The Treasurey And Comptroller pointed out that there was no budget provision for cost of the land and buildings, estimated at Tls. 10,000, though, on the other hand, running expenses would probably be covered by receipts, and he considered that the proposal warranted endorsement.
In reply to the Chairman, the Acting Commissioner of Public Health expressed the opinion that, if a slaughter-house were erected in the Eastern district, the insanitary Dractice of slaughtering in beggar huts would automatically cease. regarded the four private slaughterhouses, two of them were close together in Chengtu Road and could be supervised by one man, so that three men in all would be required. The Treasurer and Comptroller con. curred in this proposal, remarking, however, that the expenditure would have to be sanctioned in the absence of any budget provision therefor.
In answer to members' question the Acting Commissioner of Public Health stated that the existing abattoir in Fearon Road slaughtered pigs only for foreign consumption, that it was not proposed to compete with Chinese slaughter-houses, and that the supervision of these estishments would be equivalent to Jicensing them.
latter some discussion, it was recommended that the Coun cost of Tls. 6,000 for the building; and that the Health Department staff be increased by the appointment of three qualified inspectors and three Chinese assistants, Food Factories in Chapei a report submitted, the Commissioner of Public Health recommended that a trial be given to proposal by Dr. Hou-ki Hu, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, and Dr. Paul H.
Hsu, Chief of' the Division of In dustry, Department of Agriculture, Labour & Commerce, both of the Municipality of Greater Shang? regarding reciprocal licensing met sures for the better control of bakeries, confectioneries and canneries and the distribution of their products. Letters had also been received from the French Ad tration regarding the desirability agreement between the two Municipalities on the subject of outside factories, and of reciprocity in the matter of factories situated in the two Munfefpal areas. The question of issuing a licence for the importation of prepared foodstuffs was first mooted by the Commissioner of Public Health in December, 1927, but the Watch Committee in March, 1928, agreed that ft would be impolitic at that time to impose any general restriction by a licensing measure, Replying to the Chairman's inquiry, the Acting Commissioner of Public Health outlined his views in the light of recent developments, He considered the broad Mea of reciprocal action to be excellent, but hhis personal inspection of six Chinese factories in Chapei and his Knowledge of the present capacity of the Chinese Health Department made it doubtful whether the time was yet ripe for the introduction of definite scheme. Efficient inspec~ tion depended on a big staff, such as that possessed by his own Department. He understood that the Municipality of Greater Shanghai was "arranging to train 80 to 85 members of their Police Force for this work and after a period of three months to a year, when they had passed the, necessary examination, they were to be drafted to cer tain police stations where they would be assigned to this. special duty. Regarding the localities. in which foodstuffs were prepared, he had found some factories in close proximity to deposits of ordure and otherwise badly placed. The factories in some cases would require almost complete reconstruction to make them conform to the Council's standards. There was but little inclination on the part of Chinese factories to obtain the Council's licence under the present scheme, or to make the necessary alterations marder to qualify for them. Under the proposed scheme, outside factories would receive their licences from the Chinese Health Department, and, if the standard were lower, a certain amount of discontent might be looked for among competitors holding licences from the Council. From what Dr.
Mu showed him, he concluded that it was only a matter of time and expenditure before the outside factories were put on a proper. footing, when it would be possible to got rid of the undesirable complications which existed when different standards prevailed.
Matter of Agreement Deferred 'A member expressed the opinion that the matter of a reciprocal agreement with the Municipality of Greater Shanghai should be deferred, and with this members were disposed to agree.
After discussion, the Acting Commissioner of Public Health was requested to confer with the French Health Authorities and elicit their views on the subjects dealt with in thely letters; but with regard to the proposals of Dr. Hu and Mr. Hsu it-was recommended that no operate with the Chinese author this matter, as recommended the Acting Commissioner of Public Health; that a slaughter-house for pigs be erected on Municipal land in Whashing Road, at an estimated action be taken, pending the enforeement by the Chinese Health Department of sanitary regulations for which provision was now being made, whereafter the matter should be again given careful consideration,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.