POULTRY RUNS.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 17, 20 September 1928, Page 5

POULTRY RUNS.

With the rapid and continued settlerment that is proceeding in this district, there arise many problems that previously had little bearing on our community life. When houses Avere scattered, the amount of vacant land was much greater than at present, and the size of the average holding was very considerable, Poultry farming, market gardening, and other similar industries were conveniently carried on where to-day are shops and houses. What now is a closely settled area was then mostly open land with only a few houses here and there. Practically every household kept a few fowls, grew its own vegetables, and frequentlyhad a horse or a cow. The Hutt was . every respect a typical rural community. To-day conditions have changed considerably. Few (if any) households 3nake their own butter, while even vegetable growing, though encouraged, does not find a prominent place in the list of .domestic duties. The keeping of fowls, once almost universal, is confined except in certain special cases, to those fortunate people who have fairly large sections. Poultry keeping can be advocated for many reasons, and, given a sufficiently :iarge area of land, has much to commend it. On the other hand, what, for the sake of a distinction, may be termed "professional" poultry keeping is in an entirely different category, for the conditions obtaining in this district at present are such that poultry-farm-ing can scarcely meet with approval. The chief objection to it is found in the

close settlement that has taken place. It would not in any sense be true to say -that the district is congested, but it is now too closely settled to permit such an industry to have that isolation which it requires. However scientific may be the management, and however up-to-date the yards and buildings,; space is the • -chief requisite, and that space is not now available. Space in this connection refers actually to the distance from the nearest building connected with" the industry to the nearest inhabited dwelling. A poultry farm may consist of many acres, but if it, is closely covered with runs and fowl houses, and these extend up to the boundary which forms the back fence for. a number of houses, then its size is no reason for allowing it to be a nuisance. In fact, the larger the farm, -the greater the inconvenience caused to neighbouring householders. Only those live close to an extensive poultry farm can have any idea of the early morning chorus that wakes the house- I holder from Ms sleep. Doubtless in time he gets used to the noise, or else leaves the district, but this is not an extenuating circumstance. The good of the majority should be the first care of a governing body. It appears that in certain localities the good of the majority has -at present to givt way to the wishes of a small minority whose mode of living imposes a kardship upon the neighbours. In this, the minority is not actually to blame since doubtless all possible care is taken, but the oause is found in the close settlement, while the only remedy is the removal of poultry farms to the outlying portions ef the district.