PLAINS ABATTOIR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5460, 12 August 1929, Page 1

PLAINS ABATTOIR.

COUNCIL DELEGATES POWER. AGREEMENT SET OUT. The deed of delegation under which the Hauraki Plains County Council delegates to the Hauraki Plains Meat Company, Ltd., its powers to establish an abattoir for Hauraki Plains came up for confirmation at Thursday’s meeting of the council. The agreement set out that the delegation would be for a period of 21 year», commencing from the date thereof. No preferential treatment was to be given to any individual desiring to use the abattoir, and all charges which the company proposed to make Mere to be approved by the council and tbe Department of Agriculture. The charges were not to be altered without the sanction of the council, and in case of a dispute the Department of Agriculture would be the arbitrator. The council could call for a revision of the charges, and was to have access to the company’s abattoir books. The company was to keep the council indemnified against any liability that might devolve on it during the term of the agreement, and was to secure to the council’s satisfaction a bond for £lOO to the effect that the sum would be forfeited to the .council if the company for any reason other than the department’s cancellation of the certificate of registration cease to maintain the abattoir - in the terms of the delegation, provided that if the cancellation was due to any default by the company, or if it was cancelled on the company’s application, the bond would be forfeited to the council, unless the council agreed in writing to the company ceasing to paintain the abattoir.

The company was restricted not to assign or part with possession of the abattoir without the precedent written consent of the council. It was agreed that the Patetonga riding be included in the abattoir area whenever the council deemed it advisable and for the unexpired residue of the period of 21 years. If, within any period of three years, the company was convicted of any three offences, or twice for a similar offence, and was fined £3 or upward on each charge, or if it wilfully broke any term of the agreement or neglected to remedy any breach when called upon by the council to do so, it would be lawful for the council to cancel and revoke the delegation of its power. 'The deed of delegation would not be operative until approved by the Minister of Agriculture. . Scale of Charges. The proposed scale of abattoir charges submitted by the company was as follows :— Slaughtering Pees : Cattle, 9s; sheep. Is 6d ; lambs, Is 6d ; calves over 601 b, 3s ; pigs, under 2001 b 3s 6d, 2001 b and over 5s 6d ; suckers under 201 b, Is 6d. Stallage, per night, per head : Cattle, 6d ; calves, Id. Paddoeking, per night, per head : Sheep, Id : lambs, Id ; pigs, 3d. Hanging Fees •. Cattle, 4s 6d ; sheep and lambs, 9d ; calves. Is 6d ; pigs, Is 9d. Cr. Reid considered that a bond of £lOO was insufficient. Tn his opinion it should be made £3OO or £5OO. The chairman said that the matter had been carefully considered by the committee and its solicitor. A bond in such a transaction was not essential, and its provision had been inserted at the request of a member of the committee. The council had the company well tied up, and would not be under any financial obligation whatever happened. Cr. Madgwick also thought that the bond should be increased. Cr. Fisher pointed out that the bond was not payable except by order’ of a Court where damages had to be proved. It had. only been inserted in the agreement by the. council’s solicitor on instructions from the committee. Cr. Mayn wished to know whether, in the event of the company ceasing to operate, the council would be under any obligation to take over or provide another abattoir. He was assured that the council 1 would be under no obligation. Jt was not known definitely whether the proclamation of the district as an abattoir area could be revoked, though it appeared that on the abattoir ceasing to be available the requirements of the Act in the district became inoperative. The chairman,. Cr. Madgwick, and the clerk were authorised to s:gn the deed of delegation, and the proposei; scale of charges was approved. The scale of charges would have to be approved by the Department of Agriculture.