ABATTOIR BILL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19161, 18 November 1927, Page 10

ABATTOIR BILL.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIA-

MENT.

POSITION OP CHRISTCHURCH

[THE PRESS Special Service.]

WELLINGTON, November 17,

When the Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Bill was being considered in the House this afternoon, attention was drawn to the provision that a local authority might raise a special loan for extending its abattoir and a discussion arose in regard to the special case of Christchureh. Mr George Forbes said ho understood the proposal to give local authorities power to raise special loans for abattoirs applied particularly to Christchurch. He thought this would mean unnecessary expense to this City as the freezing companies around Christchureh could do the killingMr H. S. S, Kyle said the provision applied to all centres. Christchureh was in the position that there were several large freezing works that for some time had been in competition with the Christchureh City Council's abattoirs by killing stock for the local butchers. The abattoirs had been in existence for 23 years and were not now large enough to do all the slaughtering that was necessary for the City. Butchers Support Bill. Mr D. G. Sullivan said the butchers of Christchureh were supporting the Bill as an extension of the abattoir was necessary on account of its present inadequacy. The Bill was not a Christchurch one. It was meant to apply generally but it was at the same time very necessary, in so far as Christchureh was concerned. The law compelled the municipality to provide an abattoir and to keep it working and £40,000 had been spent by the City Council in doing that. That, amount had been written down to some extent. The Prime Minister: Was that in 'u:in money? Air Sullivan: Yes. The Prime Minister: Have they recouped the loan money! Mr Sullivan: "In part. Not entirely." For many years, added Mr Sullivan, the abattoir had been run at a loss. During the past year the deficiency had been wiped out and at present there was a small credit of £I4OO or £ISOO. If they were allowed to borrow the money it would be for reconstruction'and the expenditure would be in accordance with the demand of the Department. The Department had been insisting for years that there should be reconstruction and improvements. It insisted that the present works were not sufficient. Killing at Freezing Works. The Hon. Mr Nosworthy: Most of the big butchers in Christchureh kill at the freezing works. Mr SulliVan: Some of them. Not most of them. The Department had only tolerated the conditions prevailing at the Christchureh abattoir because of the hope, that this legislation would be passed by Parliament. The Department insisted that reconstruction must be carried out and unless the Council could get the money, they would be in a cleft stick. A large sum of money was not involved,, and this legislation was urgently required- There was no opposition to it. \ . Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, urged that it was necessary to have legislation of this character. In cases where the health of the people was concerned, it was unthinkable that they should, for want of this provision, tolerate an unfavourable situation that would not be tolerated, on the part of an individual. The local body shoud not be allowed to defy the Health Department. Because there was no room for slaughtering at the City abattoir the butchers were going to the freezing works. Even if this proposal were turned down, it would not mean that the slaughtering would go to ,the freezing works. He did not think there was a word to be said against the | principle of the proposal embodied in. the Bill and there was nothing wrong in permitting ;the loan to be raised without a poll. • Mr Buddo said a principle was involved. The freezing companies were dealing with the situation in an economical way. That was the reason why the poll failed. Doing without a poll did away with a very important principle. He was not aware that the sanitary authorities had made any. complaint. Mr Sullivan: But I am telling you they have. You don't know anything about it. Mr Buddo said he satf - a danger in the clause in regard to borrowing. Mr H. L. Tapley agreed with the views of the Leader of the Opposition. There were cases in which such a clause as this, was necessary. In another town a case occurred where a drainage poll had been defeated, and an outbreak of fever resulted so that the health authorities had to take the matter up. ' An Auckland Measure. Mr H. T. Armstrong said Auckland wanted it more than Christchureh. The Hon. Mr Hawken; No, they have it already. Mr Armstrong said he did not' see why there should be legislation for Auckland and not for Christchureh. The Minister had thought it well to bring down a general Bill. The population of Christchureh had increased so enormously that there was not now room at the Christchureh abattoirs and some of the butchers had to go to the freezing works. As a matter of fact Christchurch members were being bombarded with telegrams from Christchureh butchers who wanted the necessary improvements. The health of the community should come first.

Mr G. Forbes said he agreed that unless it was a matter of health a poll of the people should be demanded. They should trust the people. Christchurch was different from other towns in that there were all round about, places where the slaughtering could be economically done. He did not wish to oppose the Bill, but he wished to have the matter ventilated.

The Minister for Agriculture, the Hon, Mr Hawken, said the Bill dealt, not only with Christchurch, but with all the local authorities and was absolutely necessary. The poll at Christchurch had been turned down, but now it was a question of sanitation. At Christchurch, where the works were old fashioned and the meat and offal could not be properly handled, if they left things as they were much longer it might be a menace to the public health. The five larger towns had been forced to build, but he saw no reason why the cities should not get killing done at the freezing works. In so far as Christchurch was concerned a poll had been taken and turned down. Therefore legislation was necessary. Labour's Attitude. Mr H. M. Campbell said he was surprised that members of the Labour who were in favour of government by referendum, should object to leaving the matter to the people, and want to force the matter through at .their cost, without a poll.

Mr Armstrong: The ratepayer pay. The butchers do that. , Mr Campbell: It's just the saoetwj*' The butchers will pass it on to people, so it might as well go to the ratepayers. , , .Ik;. Mr J. S. Dickson said the whole fIF tion was that the freezing - at one time losing money, so tnoy ed to penalise the City slaughtering to themselves. TMy. got up an agitation and that the poll was defeated. They * to drive the trade to the freoMg , Mr H. Holland, Chriatchureh N<W t said that there was danger of tu j $ tamination of the meat. Jrjf was taken it was not dealt wttt, merits. It was taken at an nate time. Ho would support because it was very necessary. wero 90 butchers killing at the aDW> * and only 19-getting their at the freezing works. . kiia*" Mr Dickie said the House thaf, the determination to Bill to proceed was carried ow;J the casting vote of the c^s f?f c i|iirt Mr E. P. Lee supported tW which he thought- a very nee They could surely trust the thority to see that there w ,'•<£>**