Town Clerk's Report.

Manawatu Herald, 9 February 1899, Page 2

Town Clerk's Report.

To His Worship the Mayor, Sir, — I wish to draw your attention and the attention of the Council to the matter of slaughterhouses. There are two slaughterhouses situate within half a mile of the outer boundries of the Borough, the fees for which have been, and still are paid to the Manawatu County Council, which should be paid to this Borough. "The Slaughterhouses Act, 187,7," section 6, reads as follows: — From and after the coming into operation of this act no abbattoir shall be erected outside of a borough within a distance of half-a-mile from the outer boundary of such borough, and no license shall be issued in respect of any slaughter house situated within the aforesaid limits, unless such slaughterhouse had been erected or was in course of erection for that purpose immediately before the coming into operation of this Act. Section 23 proceeds as follows: — Any person who may be desirous of obtaining a license for a slaughterhouse shall make application for the same in manner following : — (1). If such slaughterhouse be within a distance of half-a-mile from the outer limits of any borough, and be a slaughterhouse which was erected or in course of erection for that purpose before the coming into operation of this Act, he shall apply to the Council of such Borough.' And if such Council is satisfied that such applicant is of unexceptionable character, &c, he shall pay the license fee that may be appointed by any bylaw or regulation duly made. Section 34 provides tor inspections, and the fees the inspector may demand for such inspection. The law neld good as above stated until 1894, when " The Abbattoirs and Slaughterhouses Act " came into force and which repealed all previous legislation on the subject. Section 3 of 1894 Act, subsection (1), reads as follows :— No abbattoir shall be erected outside of a city, borough, or town district within half a mile from the nearest boundary line of such city, borough or town district; (2) No license shall be issued in respect of any slaughterhouse, or place or pre mises, unless such slaughterhouse had been erected, or was in actual use anr 1 I duly licensed for that purpose immediI ately before the coming into operation 1 of this Act. Section 22 provides that applications I for slaughterhouses' licenses shall b« made as follows : — If such slaughter house be within a city, borough or town district, or within half a mile from the nearest boundary line of any city, borough, or town district, and b< a slaughterhouse which was erected o in actual use and duly licensed fo: that purpose before the coming int operation of this Act, application shal be made to the local authority of sue! city, borough, or town district, as th case may be. Section 23 provides : (1) The fee for each license shall not exceed twenty i shillings. (2) On application, the applicant or, during the currency of a license, the

licensee, may elect to pay a commutation for the inspection fees chargeable under section forty-three. Section 43 : (1) Any inspector may charge a fee, to be fixed by the locul authority, not exceeding the sum of one half-penny for each head of small cattle, and the sum of threepence for each head of large cattle, slaughAared at any abbattoir or slaughtering!*^, spected by him under the authority of this Act, and in case any cattle have been removed after slaughtering the Inspector may charge the same fees respectively for inspecting their slrin«, and such sums shall be paid by the keeper of such abbattoir or licensed slaughterhouse, and may be recovered: before any Justice. "fC * From the foregoing, it appears, that' since May 21st, 1888, to the present the Manawatu County Council has been illegally receiving license and inspection fees for two slaughterhouses which should have been received jbjr this Borough. • \>\ I wish also to draw attention to "The Adulteration Prevention Act, 1883," which provides under section n as follows : — Every local authority may appoint one or more officers of police, or other person or persons to be act inspector or inspectors for the purpose of this Act. " The Adulteration Prevention Jm« 1880 " specially relates to Bread; and it has been mentioned to me that there is need of inspection in tbifii Borough. I had an enquiry a few days ago as to rates owing on Lot 17, of R.S. 344. I have diligently searched the last three assessment lists, running ov«r a period of 9 years and have been unable to find any entry of the said lot. During the past month in connection with the form of application for a Government subsidy for the Public Library, I have spent much time in searching records and making enquiries of " Old Standards " as to the owner* ship of these buildings, but have failed to obtain any satisfactory information, These matters should, it seems to me, be inquired into at the Deeds Registry, Wellington. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, R. Chapman, Town Clerk.