POULTRY OR PEOPLE?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 386, 21 June 1928, Page 14

POULTRY OR PEOPLE?

RULING THE ROOST “SILENCERS FOR HENS” As a result of a recommendation by the Health Department to alter certain of its by-laws the Borough of Devonport is confronted with the problem of whether the 14,000 poultry or the iO,OOO residents of the Borough shall rule. Dr. H. Chesson, medical officer of health, advised the council to prohibit the keeping of poultry in the thicklypopulated portions of the borough. His attention had been drawn to the necessity for this action by complaints that a resident of Oxford Terrace had about 300 poultry in one section. He had complied with the borough by-laws as to the sanitation of the fowl run. and it was conducted as cleanly as business of that nature could be. The nearby residents in addition to the complaints about objectionable smells from the yard, were very much disturbed by the noises from the poultry. In any case, the presence of poultry in congested areas was liable to create a nuisance. HARDLY OPPORTUNE Mr. E. Aldridge, Mayor, while being in sympathy with the complaining residents and the department’s desire to eliminate conditions that might militate against good health, thought that the time was hardly opportune to amend the by-laws. Mr. T. Walsh: Let the candidates at the next elections make it a plank in the platform. (Laughter.) Mr. F. J. H. Ellisdon said the question should be taken seriously. Oth«r boroughs had prohibited the keeping of poultry. Mr. Aldridge: £ut even in thickly populated areas people must have eggs to eat. Mr. Walsh: The question seems ID be one of whether the majority shall rule. Is the borough population of 10,000 people to allow the 14,000 hem to “rule the roost?” Mr. S. H. Lyon insisted that many people kept fowls as a hobby, Ii try were prohibited, the council should also prohibit the keeping of canaries and cats. They would be wanting muzzles on roosters soon. Mr. Walsh: Yes! Silencers for hens. The matter was referred back to the council-in-committee.