LEVIN ABATTOIRS SCHEME.

Shannon News, 20 March 1928, Page 4

LEVIN ABATTOIRS SCHEME.

PROPOSED INCLUSION OF WIROKINO RIDING.

REFERRED TO FARMER’S UNION /

A request that the County Council should, in the interests of public health, agree to the inclusion of the Wirokino Riding in tlio proposed Borough Abattoir area was received froni the Levin Borough Council, at the County Council’s meeting on Saturday'.

The Town Clerk, in his letter, stated that this area had been suggested as being a reasonable 011 c, in that most ei the trade done therein is in the hands of Levin butchers, whilst the area does not extend near enough to neighbouring boroughs to affect their trade in any way'.

The Chairman (Mr. G! A. Monk) said that, in looking into the matter, he found that at present anywhere within three miles from a borough by' the nearest road a farmer had not the same authority to kill stock as farmers further out had. Outside that radius a farmer could kill and sell one large or five small beasts a week without a license. The point that he was concerned about was whether, if the rid-

ing \vas brought within the -abattoir area, this would affect the killing of' pigs by farmers oji their- own places for sending to Wellington. Within an abattoir area all pork that was slaughtered had to go through the abattoir. In the Wirokino riding a considerable amount of pork was slaughtered and the carcases forwarded to Wellington every week, and he did not know what effect the proposal might have on those engaged in that industry; they might prefer to have the killing done at l-ha abattoirs. Pork, was under a very rigid inspection. He had tlio.ijght of C-O----ferring the Boroim'. Conn.*.'."] V request to the Farmers’ Union, but .probably

the Levin and Kuku dairy companies

could give the Council some informai tion, or a lead' as to whether they would like to have the Wirokino riding included in this area. “I think •we would be adverse to doing anything ; detrimental to our ratepayers and ‘farmers,” the Chairman added. “We 'should take them into consultation through the best channel we can get. if this were referred to the reompauies, they might get in direct Touch with their suppliers, of if ive reifer it to the Farmers’ Union, they might call a meeting -of the farmers of the district and discuss the whole matter.”

Cr. Kilsby stated that a few months •ago the men who were killing pigs and sending them to Wellington had notice to cease doing so unless the pigs were ■killed in abattoirs. They' called a meeting, which was held at the Levin Uo’s office. He thought' all of them

were agreed that abattoirs • should. be :constructed here. It happened a few Weeks afterwards that some of the heads of the Health Department came salong, and agreed that these , men carry' 'on until' abattoirs are constructed In Levin, when they would have to kill in them. He believed there was an arrangement by which meat could be taken from one district to' another. ■ .

The Chairman: The Wellington abattoirs are taxed, to. their utmost, so some is slaughtered at the Wellington 'Meat Export works and some at the Gear works. • .

Cr. Kilsby: /These men who are sending pigs to Wellington are just awaiting an opportunity to kill at abactoirs. I think most of them are in the Wirokino riding. I think the abattoir is one of the things absolutely necessary for a borough of this size, and think there is no reason for any delay. All bur members here are quite in accord with this matter, I think,, although they were only approached this morning on it. I was under the impression that an area v had to be stated, in milbs, in which they could not enter with their meat, but I believe it. is just a matter of agreement with the local bodies who wish to come into this area. - Anyone killing outside of the area cannot bring his meat into the area and sell it. I feel that the scheme is badly needed in this district. Cr. McLeavey: I think these people are going to welcome it. It is goi-ig to be a saving to them in the long run.

Cr. Kilsby: We were given to understand that a number of the pigs condemned in Wellington would not' be condemned if they were killed at abattoirs and inspected there.

Cr. Ryder: We all know that the cost of living is mounting, and every one of these institutions that we build puts it higher It is a very grave question whether this district is big enough to warrant abattoirs at present I hope that, if they are going to be built, the}' will be built in a sensible manner, and that a freezer or cooler will be attached to them, so that a lot can be slaughtered at the same time, and not kept and starved; animals will not settle down and eat there. If you kill them in a week’s time, the real richness of the meat is gone. .

Cr. Kilsby: The Borough Council and the Dairy Company went into the figures, and there are sufficient head of stock being killed here to warrant abattoirs. There are considerably ■more being slaughtered adjacent to Levin than are killed in a number cf places that already have abattoirs, such as Rotorua, Te -Kuiti, and. T a grange . As regards the cooling of the meat, I think it is the intention of the Borough Council to erect a chilling chamber, where they can keep the meat for two or three days. I think the . Town Clerk would bo only too pleased to make any statement here, if asked.

The Chairman: I am not personally concerned with regard to the borough;my concern is with the people resident in the county. If the representatives of Wirokino are satisfied that the farmers are not going to be imposed on in any way, I think we are quite justified in putting this through. Cr. Catley: It is a move in the right