ABATTOIR KILLINGS
DIVERSION OF FIRM’S STOCK QUESTIONS AT COUNCIL MEETING. POSITION AT MASTERTON. At a meeting of the Masterton Borough Council last night it was decided that the slaughtering contractor at the Masterton abattoir (Mr C. Elvidge) be informed that the Abattoir Committee has given careful consideration to the position which had arisen under his contract by the diversion of Messrs J. A. Betts Ltd’s, killings and was not prepared to renew the temporary arrangement entered into with him beyond the month decided. It was also agreed that should the contractor find himself unable to continue under the terms of his contract an opportunity would be given him to approach the committee requesting that his contract be terminated and his bond released. Councillor W. Kemp: "The chairman of the abattoir committee (Councillm A. D. Low) is dodging again. What is the reason." Councillor Low: "I strongly object to that.” “I want the official reason why Mt Betts has shifted from the abattoirs.•, continued Councillor Kemp. "A matter some months ago left a nasty taste in our mouths and now a second one has arisen. Why has the biggest killing stopped? We don’t want people guessing again, as they did over the last matter when a public statement might have stopped it. We were told that under the contracting system the costs would be cheaper, and now 1 am informed that Mr Betts had an increase of 30 per cent in his killing charges.” The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan: "That is not correct.” Councillor Kemp: "I want the chairman to give me the real reason." Councillor Low: "The reason is quite open. Ninety per cent of Mr Betts’s killings went to Wellington. He now considers it an advantage to send the stock live rather than as meat. The figures were revised under the Meat Act and we were unable to give Mr Betts a concession on his hanging charges. He Considered that he could kill cheaper in Wellington and so he is now sending his stock to Wellington.’ Councillor R. Russell: "I wish to thank Councillor Low lor clearing up the matter. There have been a number of rumours circulating in the town concerning the matter.” "It seems a most extraordinary thing to me that there should be any rumours about the position. I cannot understand any councillor lending his ear to rumours and not having faith in his fellow-councillors and chairman of committees who are working in the interests of the ratepayers,” commented Councillor Low. Councillor Kemp: "The chairman of the Abattoir Committee has had a wonderful innings for 6 years. There is nothing in his report about the position after the end of the month. Are we going to go on with the extraordinary expense of maintaining the abattoirs.” Mr Jordan: “It is not fair to speak like that—as a member of the committee 1 resent it.” • Councillor Kemp: “I want to know the position.” Councillor H. E. Gardner: "It seems to me that the plans and specifications of the abattoirs committee have gone astray.” Councillor Low: "The abattoirs have been nothing but a worry for the committee. It is unfair to suggest that the committee is trying to push things through keep matters back from the rest of the council." Mr Jordan: “It is uncalled for. If a councillor thinks that he missed anything let him come to the committee meeting.” Councillor Kemp: "I was only asking for a statement.” “You certainly have a very queer way of asking for statements,” observed Mr Jordan. The matter then lapsed.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1940, Page 7
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590ABATTOIR KILLINGS Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1940, Page 7
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