The rapid Bpxead of cancer, tuber culosis, and phthsis among the in habitants of this colony of late years has been attended by an equally accelerated death-rate among the herds of cattle depasturing in New- Zealand during the flame period. Cancer is not so prevalent among cattle as it is in the human popula tion, as where a beast is seen to be suffering from the fell disorder the knife or a bullet cuts short its course, and; the beast Buffering therefrom offends the eye no more ; but — and here is tho disgusting phase of the subject — some owners are bo crimin ally avaricious that they will not; destroy the eaicase of a cancer or tuberculosis infected beaßt ; but on the contrary either sell it to some purveyor of small goods, as in a town not 100 miles from here not long since, or feed their pigs thereon. We need not go further into this phase of the subject, as everyone knows I that the time has arrived for efficient precautions being taken to prevent the spread of the above named dis eases from infected cattle. The first ' and most imperative need is to ap- j point properly qualified inspectors, who shall examine all animals before and after being slaughtered for human consumption, and condemn any found to be suffering from diß ease. To do this properly it is neces sary that all large cities and towns shall provide public abattoirs, where alone meat intended for sale shall be killed and dressed. The Abattoirs Act gives Municipal and County Councils ample powers to raise funds and to erect abattoirs, but so far noue of these bodies throughout Hew Zealand have taken advantage of the Act. It may be asked, "Why?" The answer is simple, "vested interests " — that Jugger naut beneath whose blood-stained wheels helpless and ignorant human ity have for so long allowed them selves to be crushed. Some time since Mr Joseph' Sommerville, Chair man of the Wanganui County Coun cil, moved in the matter, and did Mb level best to stir up the Borough and Waitotara County Councils to join the body he represented in establish ing a public abattoir for the Wanga*

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