BANKS MEAT COMPANY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 881, 29 July 1910, Page 4

BANKS MEAT COMPANY.

COUNCILS DECISION. Last oveuiug Mr. C. P. Skerrett's opinion in reference to the legality of issuiug a slaughtering licpuse to the Bank's Meat Export Company was laid beiore the City Council:" The Mayor stated that he had 'submitted a case approved by Mr. Atkinson instead of his own. The opinion of Mr. Skerrett was that the. issue of the license was not a ■ matter for the Wellington City Council.at all. That, in his opinion, was the ■ meaning of Mr. Skerrelt's opinion and he personally did not agree with it. On getting this opinion, he had asked Mr. O'Shea to'interview Mr. Skerrett in. reference to the puwur of this council, and not of the Makara County Council, because that was what they wanted to know. He said taey had nothing to do with it. The position was according to Mr. Skerrett's opinion, that the Bank's Company was not a meat export slaughtering- company within the meaning of the Act, and that therefore the Makara County Council had no power to grant a license. In the speaker's opinion, the City Council were concerned in the matter. They had contractors who were interested in "the license.* Tne coun'-. cil was quite entitled to pass a resolution' in regard to it. The original motion' carried by the council was in the shape of ,a recommendation to the Government th.iV tiii' company bo .given a twelve months' trial. Councillor Atkinson had moved to rescind this motion,and tho discussion was broken into by an amendment that the matter be referred to Mr. Skerrptt for his opinion. Councillor Shirtcliffe said that in face of Mr. Skerrett's opinion, the councU had no right to recommend the license, and practically connive at a breach of tho law. ' • . . Councillor Frost said he had previously vottd in favour of the. company getting a licen?e. but would alter his vote now. Councillor Atkinson,'in ths, course of ■his reply. BnnMi-K-d Hit.l clearly they must iihidp b> Mr. Skerrett's opinion that the' Iwnw rould not be tn-aiiteil (?ven with the approval of the Minister fnr Agriculture. p ~.T i htpp'l Hμf flip motion recommending the Government to grant the license be rescinded.