THE HUMANE SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—In reply to your article on the humane slaughter of animals ; in your opening paragraph you mention that there are reforms much overdue on which instructed opinion agrees. To-day we are having reforms pushed upon us according to instruction. What we want is practical reform, and the method of carrying out reforM should be left to the expert. We have too much interference with our industrial and political affairs by persons who are least acquainted with the facts.
It is practical knowledge we want, not sentimentalists. Master butchers and slaughtermen seek to slaughter all animals as humanely as possible ; it is to their advantage to do so. The poleaxe is no more an instrument of torture than the killer provided by the R.S.P.C.A., and as you yourself admit, it is possible for the humane killer to miss its mark even when used by an expert.
I should like to refer you to a national demonstration held at Birmingham. Experts were present at that demon- stration, alkbf whom spoke favourably of the poleaxe, and with regard to the quality of the meat slaughtered, the verdict was in favour of that killed by the poleaxe. A very small percentage of authorities have adopted by-law 0 (b) and that very much against the will of the butchers and slaughternsen, showing that the wiser counsel of the practical man has been ignored.
I am confident that when a better and safer method is introduced for the slaughter of animals it will be welcomed by all who are engaged in the meat trade. The National Federation of Butchers, composed of practical men, men capable of looking after the interests of the trade, should be the authority or the advisers as to the best method of conducting one of the greatest trades in the country.—I am, Sir, &c., H. G.
[We can only repeat what we wrote last week—Humane slaughter is a reform which is long overdue. Nothing said by our correspondent in his note causes us to modify our views. We are not sentimentalists, but facts speak for them- selves, and the humane-killer versus poleaxe controversy has been settled once for all in favour of the humane killer. Several of the most progressive countries in Europe use it almost exclusively.—En. Spectator.]
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