Mr. CAWLEYasked the President of the Local Government Board what powers are conferred by the Board on local authorities for making by-laws regulating slaughter-houses, with a view to the prevention of unnecessary suffering on the part of animals killed for human food?
§ The PRESIDENT Of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)By Section 169 of the Public Health Act, 1875, which incorporates the provisions of the Towns Improvement Clauses Act, 1847, as to slaughter-houses, a town council or urban district council may make by-laws for the regulation of slaughter-houses, including the prevention of cruelty therein. Similar powers may be conferred on rural district councils by Order of the Board. In London, the London County Council have powers to make by-laws for regulating the conduct of the business of a slaughterer of cattle under Section 19 (4) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.