NRS-16639 | Slaughter register [Tibooburra Court of Petty Sessions]

An Act for Regulating the Slaughtering of Cattle, 1834 (V William IV, No. 1) regulated recordkeeping of cattle slaughtered (section 6). This requirement was continued by the Cattle Slaughtering and Diseased Animals and Meat Act, 1902 (Act No. 36, 1902). The purpose for this regulation was to ensure that only wholesome meat was sold for public consumption. The Act stipulated that a register be kept giving the details of slaughtering and that a report including the particulars of cattle slaughtered be submitted monthly to the local bench of justices. Penalties applied for failing to keep these records, making incorrect entries, refusing either to submit the monthy report or to produce the register when required by a justice. This record series was created in accordance with these requirements. Each entry includes: date; locality; butcher; particulars of cattle, sheep or pigs slaughtered (giving sex, colour, brands, marks, age, and any other details); for what purpose slaughtered; owner; from whom purchased; and remarks. The remarks column included supplementary details regarding the cattle, half-yearly summaries and other notes made by the Inspector on regular visits.It is unclear whether the register was retained at the Court because of the monthly reporting requirement or was retained there for safekeeping.