HEATED WORDS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1933, Page 8

HEATED WORDS

INCIDENT AT TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL. TIMARU, November 13, -“What right have you to- try to forte this on the council? You cannot rule this town much longer,” said Cr A. M. Patterson to the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) at a meeting of the.Timaru Borough Council to-night, during a discussion about the proposed revision of the abattoir slaughtering contract.

Introducing the matter, the Mayor s aid that the slaughtering of stock wa s done by contract at so much a head, the contractor supplying the office with a schedule of the stock slaughtered for the different butchers from whom the council collected tees. The management of the abattoir up to two years ago was undertaken by the Government veterinarian, who was also a meat inspector. .When the new contract wa s entered into the same arrangement was carried on under a new veterinarian. However, the new contractor (jur Patterson) discovered matters not specifically mentioned in the contract, aha stated that they came under the province of the manager. Arrangements were then made for him to relinquish hi s office, for which the council baa paid the Government £9O a year, and Mr Patterson took over the management at a remuneration of £7B, employing a boy at l-5s a week to sort skins.

Cr. Patterson said that if the proposal was carried it would mean “sweating” conditions, and would throw many Timaru slaughtermen out of work.

The Mayor said that the changes proposed were necessary, whereupon Ci. Patterson retorted that while the Mayor was anxious to see his own son promoted in the service of the council ho stood in the way of the speaker’s son.

Mr Satterthwaite denied the .allegation. . ...

;Cr. P. C. Vennell said he regretted the tone taken .by the debate, and said .the Mayor had never tried to force anything .on him. Cr. Patterson, to -the Mayor: It is not so long since this same councillor ■gave you. a good dressing down.

Cr. Vennell: And I will do so again if necessary. Cr. Patterson: I see you claim the right to do so when you please, but you deny the same , right to others. A motion vfas “That the specifications of the contract be renewed in, a more comprehensive form, so a,s fully to embrace all the duties of the contractor, and that they be considered by a special committee to be .deal,t with by the council at the next meeting.” A further motion, that the positions of manager and contractor be in future distinct'and separate, and not to be-held by the sam e man, was withdrawn, pending a reply to a third tWt' the Department of Agriculture he asked if it -Would permit a Government meat inspector to act as abattoir manager, it being suggested that £52 yearly be a reasonable contribution to the Government for such sendee.