TRUCKING YARDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1938, Page 8

TRUCKING YARDS

SHIFTING TO SOLWAY OPPOSED FARMERS’ ATTITUDE. REPRESENTATIONS TO RAILWAYS GENERAL MANAGER. Opposition to the proposal to shift the trucking yards from the Masterton Railway Station to Solway was voiced this morning by representatives of the farming community at a gathering of interested parties held at the station. Mr G. H. Mackley, General Manager of Railways was present, together with several Departmental officers. Others present were Mr J. Robertson, the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan and representatives of the Farmers’ Union, Masterton County Council, freezing companies and Associated Auctioneers. Mr Jordan said that about 150,009 sheep were handled at the local trucking yards annually. He drew attention to the previously notified insanitary condition of the trucking yards, which; in his opinion, had become a menace to the good health of the borough. Masterton was now past the village stage and it was not in keeping that this large quantity of stock, including wild station cattle, should pass through the streets in thickly-populated areas. He stated that he had the complete backing of stock auctioneers in asking that the trucking yards should be shifted to Solway. At certain times the yards became a cesspool and almost insuperable difficulties in regard to the cleaning of the yards created a distinct menace to the community.

Mr A. M. Henderson, on behalf of the Associated Auctioneers, supported Mr Jordan’s remarks. He emphasised the danger of station cattle being taken through portion of the populated area of the town and said the association was quite in agreement with the shifting of the yards to Solway. ! Mr L. T. Daniell, representing the Transport Committee of the Farmers’ Union Executive stated that he spoke on behalf of all East Coast farmers. The whole trouble, he said, arose through complaints laid in February last about the insanitary condition of the yards, which, he maintained, was due to the failure of the Railways Department to see that the contract for cleaning the trucks and yards was properly carried out. The Associated Auctioneers were regarded merely as employees of the farmers,’ as all charges incurred by them were simply handed on for the farmers to pay. ’ Therefore, he said, their views were less entitled to consideration than those of the farmers.' He maintained that ample facilities for sanitation were available. The store sheep trade, which all went north by rail, was steadily growing and every facility should be afforded for the successful handling of this stock. The shifting of the yard to Solway would involve still further expense to farmers and each item of expense was like a dripping tap to the farmer. The chairman of the Masterton County Council, Mr Gordon Lee, said the county viewed with great concern the proposal to shift the yards to Solway. When the alternative route from the saleyards via the river bank to the railway station was being considered the Associated Auctioneers were 100 per cent with the farmers in the choice of the proposed new route. To-, day, he said, the auctioneers had made 'a complete face about. Mr x W. I. Armstrong stressed the fact that the proposed new river bank , route had been previously decided upon between 'the farmers, the county and. the borough. Mr J. Robertson said he had taken advantage of the recent visit of the Minister of Railways to have this thorough investigation made, with the assistance of officers of the Railway Department.

Mr G. Moore pointed out that the existing route from the saleyards to the trucking yards was 1J miles, whereas the proposed route to Solway was a little under five miles. The avoidance of taking stock through built-up areas would be equally achieved by the proposed river-bank route as in the Solway route. He stressed the fact that years ago when the saleyards were at Solway -that buyers would not go there. Mr Mackley stated that he was quite in sympathy with Mi- Jordan’s plea for the safety and convenience of the general public. He admitted that temporarily insanitary conditions could prevail, but there was no insuperable difficulty- in providing for the removal of the refuse and for the sanitary condition of the yards. He also appreciated the danger of stock, particularly cattle, being brought through built-in areas of the borough and there was room for improvement in the condition of the yards and the site and he thought that much could be done by the Department to remove the menace to health. The alternative route question Showed the possibility of the removal of the travelling danger. In a difficulty of this kind the farmers’ needs must be kept wholly in front in any effort to remove the handicaps from the borough’s point of view. The

shifting of the yards to Solway would involve an expense of at least £5OOO and would place the Department at a 'disadvantage in shunting operations and. there would be less general facilities for stock-owners and the Department at Solway. He could promise the Mayor that no stone would be left unturned in the meantime to keep the existing yards in the best possible condition and promised to bring into immediate effect certain desirable improvements to the general layout and necessary safeguards for sanitation. The possibility of the creation of a nuisance to the public would be kept within all reasonable grounds. Departmental officers then made an investigation into the geographical aspect of the various, I ,routes and proposals.