SALEYARDS AND SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 287, 27 April 1911, Page 7

SALEYARDS AND SCHOOL

The proximity'of: the saleyards to the Urenui school was the subject of discussion and some strong comment at the Education Board meeting yesterday. The matter was brought forward by a clause in the Finance Committee's report, which recommended that the Board find the necessary iron nails and posts to erect a fence alongside the saleyards, the committee to do the labor. This was in reply tq ,i| jlejt^er/{rom Mr. A. H. Halcombe, chairman, which stated that the Urenui commi:fcte.e,|drew the Board's attention to the to children attending'i the Wjhqp'l |by.< cattle to arid from the saleyards. The frontage gate t the. saleyards gate, and although there'was a six-barb wire fence along cattle were always smqsfijigqthpmgh into the school fences and causing endless .expense, besides frightening the children. They, therefore, asked the. Board to grant the sum of £l2 to erect an iron fence. The Board's inspector had. been asked to take notice of the matter, and would be able to report further if necessary.

Mr. Morton stated that before consenting to this clause he would like to explain the position. The saleyards were right alongside the school boundary, and within 30 feet of the school. Not only were cattle sold there, but sheep and pigs also, and the sheep and pig pens were right alongside the fence. Some times there were as many as 12,000 sheep in the pens at once. During sale times it was not possible for the school to be worked under good conditions; in fact, it was scandalous that such a position should be allowed to exist. He considered that the Board should take legal advice as to whether it was possible to have the saleyards removed to a position where the health of the children will not be endangered. The Health Officer should also be asked to report,' and if he condemned the saleyards as being injurious to the children, it would be for the Board to sec if such an abominable state of things should be allowed to continue. The Board was doing its best to improve conditions, and was met by an obstacle like this. Personally, he could not understand why the settlers had sat quiet so long and allowed the health of their children to be endangered, aye, even their very existence to be imperilled. As regards the fences, he quite sympathised with the committee's desire to minimise the risk ot cattle breaking into the school grounds, but considered that they should find out if the owner of the yards was not liable for the repair of the fences. There was considerable danger to the children through cattle breaking into the school grounds during play Jiours.,. In fact, at a sale or two ago] IwS bulls did break through. He wasnotcontent that the Board should sit down and allow such a state of things to. continue.

The chairman said he had no idea the saleyards were so extensive. He thought it was just a small country sale held once a month. He considered the Health Officer's report should be obtained, and then the Board could deal with the matter.

Mr. Cargill agreed that the mattei was scandalous. He considered that the suggestion re consulting the Board's solicitor was an excellent one,. If the Board had not the power to compel the removal of the saleyards they could ascertain how far they could enforce sanitary improvements, so as to mitigate the nuisance. An opinion was also re-

quired as to the liability for the destruction of the fence. It appeared as if nothing short of a high brick wall or a very strong fence would prevent the cattle breaking through and creating damage, causing annoyance to the committee and danger to the children. Mr. Adlam thought if the owner was approached there would probably be no difficulty in arranging re the repairs to the fence, and the removal of the pig pens to the other side of the yard. Mr. Haleombe said this would relieve the nuisance to a certain extent, but not entirely. Mr. Morton then moved that the Health Department be requested to inspect the Urcnui school and the saleyards adjoining, and to report to the Board as to whether in its opinion the health of the children was endangered by the close proximity of the yards to the school building. In support, Mr. Morton stated that he did not wish to request the owner to do anything until the position was defined as to whether the yards could be maintained in their present position.

Mr. Trimble seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.