ABATTOIR FOR PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5448, 15 July 1929, Page 3

ABATTOIR FOR PLAINS.

DEFINITION OF AREA. % COUNCIL DEFERS DECISION. Matters in connection with the abattoir for Hauraki Plains occupied a great deal of the County Council’s time on Thursday last. The Abattoir Committee, Crs. Harris and Fisher, reported on a conference held with Messrs James, Scott, and Hayward, of the Hauraki Plains Meat Co., Ltd., at which Mr E. L. Walton, the company’s legal adviser, Mr A. P. Gardiner, who had prepared a plan of the proposed abattoir building, and Mr J. P. Findlay, Government stock inspector, were also present.

The plan and specifications for the proposed building were approved by the council’s committee for submission to the Minister of Agriculture for his approval. The committee had been asked by the company to consider : The supply of water : to accept dedication of road to abattoir; metalling of road -to abattoir ; and constitution of special district in all, its aspects before making a recommendation to the council.

The committee had instructed the clerk to take a postal referendum as to inspected or non-inspected meat in the Pipiroa and Waitakaruru ridings. The clerk explained that some persons had taken exception to the wording of the referendum* circular and had insinuated that he had been influenced in the matter. This was quite false. Every ratepayer, occupier, or sharemilker had received a voting paper, and over 100 had been posted, but only 23 papers had been returned. Of these, 14 votes were for inspected meat and nine—all from Waitakaruru riding—were against

Crs. McDuff and Madgwick said tliat this gave the council very little lead.

Cr. McDuff said that all the county, excepting Patetonga, should be included.

The chairman explained that the Waitakaruru butcher had recently built a new slaughterhouse, and it would be a hardship on him to restrict his sphere of operations. The following letters were then read :—

Mr E. L. Walton, for the Hauraki Plains Meat Co., Ltd., wrote drawing attention to certain incorrect statements that were being broadcasted concerning the abattoir and to the fact that a deputation intended waiting on the council asking for the exclusion of certain districts from the abattoir area.

The Hauraki Plains Meat Co., Ltd., had been formed because the shareholders believed that the public was entitled to inspected meat and on the strength of the resolution passed at the previous meeting of the council whereby it resolved to delegate to the company its powers as an authority for the control of a public abattoir for the Plains. While the company did not wish to interfere with the council’s decision as to the area to be served by the abattoir it did desire to point out the inaccuracies of two of the statements that are being made. It was being said that the council was granting a monopoly to the company. This statement was quite incorrect, as at a meeting of the butchers it was pointed out that the establishment of an abattoir would facilitate the opening of butchers’ shops in opposition to the company, because the opposition would not have to go to the expense of slaughter houses. The statement was quite wrong as the company, by undertaking the abattoirs, would invite opposition if it did not sell meat at competitive prices.. The statement had also been made that the company would run for a couple of years and then go into liquidation, and that the county would be compelled to take over its liabilities. The inaccuracy and absurdity of this statement was manifest. The council did not incur any liability by delegating its powers. To put this beyond doubt even to the most suspicious it was suggested that the council insert in its delegation a condition that no liability 'whatever shall accrue to it. A? a statement of the legal position Mr Walton gave it an emphatic denial. The Waitakaruru - Pipiroa Ratepayers’ Association forwarded the following resolution : “That the County Council be asked to cut out Pipiroa and Waitakaruru ridings from the Hauraki Plains County Abattoir area.”

Cr. Madgwick said that in fixing the area the council should act as if it was building the abattoir itself.

Cr. IJarris said that the resolution of the Ratepayers’ Association was unanimously carried by the 16 ratepayers present.

Cr. Parfitt - said that on the other hand the settlers were inconsistent in that they wanted inspected meat.

The chairman said that the meeting also desired the council to make arrangements, if possible, to have meat slaughtered at Waitakaruru under Government inspection. L Sections in the Act were read' ty the clerk showing that meat nut slaughtered under Government inspection could not be sold in an abattoir area. - *

Cr. Reid pointed out that the Paeroa butchers would have to pay hanging fees in respect to their meat gold in the Netherton district. Cr. Parfitt said that the hanging fees were so low that they did not prevent butchers from one abattoir district trading in another district. The clerk, still perusing the Act, said that it did not provide for the inspection of all meat at a slaughterhouse.

Cr. Fisher* advocated fixing the district as the whole of the county excluding the Patetonga district. Cr. Parfitt said he did not agree with the resolution passed by the Ratepayers’ Association, as the Pipiroa riding came as far as Hopai. The chairman explained that meat from the abattoir’ could be sold anywhere, but meat from a slaughterhouse could not be sold within the abattoir area.

Cr. Hale said that for a long time there had been a public agitation for the council to provide abattoirs. By a stroke of good fortune the butchers had come forward with their proposition and thus relievfed the council. The way to look at the matter was how would the council have defined the area if it was building the abattoir. He had no hesitation in saying that the council would declare the whole of the county, with the exception of the Patetonga district. The chairman said that the area would have to be fixed by a special order of the council at a special meeting. He would therefore suggest that the question be deferred for full consideration to a special meeting. Cr. McDuff said that the council should look at the proposition from the point of view, of the public and not from the viewpoint of an interested party.

, Cr. Parfitt was of opinion the council should act very carefully in the matter of delegating its powers. It was decided to hold a special meeting on Friday, July 19th.