NEW STOCK ROUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 91, 14 October 1932, Page 11

NEW STOCK ROUTE

TO SERVE ABATTOIRS

CONSTRUCTION URGED

The desirability of providing a stock route from Johnsonville to the abattoirs at Ngahaunga, was urged by a deputationl which waited on the Makara County Council to-day.

The deputation consisted of Messrs G. Mitchell, J. E. Salt, Mesdames Christie, Kenny, and Hunt, representing the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Mr. A. Moore, representing the Live Stock Association; Mr. Steel, representing Wright, Stephenson, and Co.,'owners'of the Johnsonville stock saleyards; and Mr. W. A. Sutherland, representing the Wellington Automobile Club. " •

After members of the deputation and the council had expressed their views, a committee consisting of the chairman of the council (Mr. E. Windley), and Messrs. Mitchell, Sutherland, and Moore, was set np to go into the matter.

•■ Mr. Mitchell said the society believed that the council's decision to turn down the .proposal to construct a stock route jvas due probably to a misapprehension as to the nature of the work required, and also to the steepness of the grade. The society was anxious that the work should be done immediately, and was prepared to put the road through if the council surveyed it and-.-purehased :the necessary land.

Mr. Moore said that a stock route would be r a blessing to all concerned. The main highway down the. Ngahauranga Gorge was riof suitable for driving stock... T,he bullocks slipped .on the bitumen, and he had seeb drovers' horses turn complete somersaults on the road on frosty-mornings.. Messrs. Sutherland and Steel and Mrs. Hunt also spoke in favour of "a new route. - .... ~ . •.

The chairman, said that the, council supported the views of the deputation. The question, of tie grade had hamperr ed the council's activities in. the matter, but there were many other-questions in connection with the proposal, and these involved expenditure. It was.a' public question, and other councils besides Makara were" concerned in the matter. While the council was prepared to" assist in-bringing, about an improvement, it was. not. going to shoulder all the responsibility. . It concerned : the City Council more-' than 'the Makara Council. The question of the grade was a debatable point, but perhaps it was.not aa bad as it appeared on the surface. . .■„ . ■'~.'.