ABATTOIR AREA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5475, 16 September 1929, Page 1

ABATTOIR AREA.

PETITION FOR ALTERATION.

REQUEST TO PLAINS COUNCIL.

A deputation comprising Messrs. F. Pinchess, T. Evans and E. Levers waited upon the Hauraki Plains Council at its meeting on Thursday last,

and presented a requisition signed by 95 settlers of the Waitakaruru-Pipi-roa district. They were introduced by the chairman who explained that they represented the 95 settlers of Waitakaruru and portion of Pipiroa who desired the council to alter its decision including Waitakaruru and Pipiroa ridings in the abattoir area.

Mr E. Levers, the first speaker, said that the settlers wished the council to reconsider its decision. The district had suffered in that the council’s decision had the effect of driving the local butcher out of business and compelling residents to depend on getting meat from Ngatea or Thames, which was .unsatisfactory. He contended that the postal referendum taken by the council had been misunderstood. The true opinion of the residents was given in the petition.

In reply to Cr. Madgwick, wh j stated that the deputation had not given any definite objection, Mr F. Pinchess said that the closing of the Waitakaruru butcher shop was causing an inconvenience to settlers. Under the Abattoirs Act meat had to be hung twelve hours before being sold,’ and anyone Would realise that meat would not keep in summer time if hung so long. Mr Evans said that those people living at a distance from the main roads were at a great disadvantage in that they could not get meat delivered to them when the roads were bad. When there was a butcher at Waitakaruru meat used to be delivered to these settlers by means of a pack horse. Cr. Mayn said that he had opposed the Waitakaruru riding being brought into the abattoir area, but it had been done, and he would oppose altering the area at this stage, in view of the fact that the meat company had gone ahead and incurred great expense on the strength of the council’s decision. It would not be' fair to alter the decision now and if it was done the council would, in his opinion, be liable for damages. Cr. Madgwick said that the only objection he could see was that of hardships to outlying settlers. To his mind the settlers were assuming that the butchers operating through the abattoirs would not continue to deliver to the outlying settlers. Cr. Mayn asked would not competition provide for this. The deputation: Where will the competition come from ? Crs. said that there was nothing to prevent opposition coming into the district. It was a wonder that the 95 signatories to the requisition did not get a butcher to start in Waitakaruru.

Mr Pinchess said that such a butcher would‘have to get meat from an abattoir.

Mi' Evans said that the Waitakaruru butcher provided this, service, but there was no assurance that the meat company would continue. The chairman assured the deputation that the matter would be considered very carefully by the council in committee.

After the deputation had withdrawn the chairman asked if it was the council’s wish that the discussion be taken in committees. There were cries of "No,” and Cr. McDuff asked that the requisition be read. This was ignored, and a division was taken on the question of going into committee, the motion being cartied on the votes of Crs. Harris. Parfitt, Fisher, Motion and Hale. On standing orders being resumed the following resolution of the coun-cil-in-committee was confirmed, on the motion of Cr. Harris, seconded by Cr. Mayn : “That no action he taken.”