COUNTY SALEYARDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9650, 5 July 1919, Page 6

COUNTY SALEYARDS

COUNCIL TO CONTROL

The Sal-cyarus Co. wrote to tlie County Council, yesterday submitting new conditioins of Jeaso of the Ashburton Saloyards, and offering a yearly rental of £125 per annum. Tho company also asked to bo allowed to charge l^d extra yard fees for fat sheep and lambs sold. The Chairman said he did not think the Council should consider the company's new conditions. The Council had spent over £400 on the yards in alterations. The additional, charge ol l£d on fat sheep at Ashburton Yards would mean that soon tlie same increase would be made at Tinwald Yards. Cr Gallagher said tho Council should go into this matter, and see whether it could 7iot run the yards oa its own account.

Cr. lieid «iid ho considered the time had arrived when the Council should take over the yards. The company was raising all sorts of obstacles. Additional improvements asked for would involve a further expenditure of about £800. Tho Council should run the yards for a' y»ar at least. The company agreed to jxiy 5v per cent, when the other improvements were made, and now it wanted more. A good man could be put in charge of the yards, and the Council could successfully run them.

Cr. H. Harrison said he agreed with Cr. Reid that the Council should control the vards>. .

Cr. Lill said htf was one who liad been opposed to tho Council taking tlie yards. Tho company, with its % new conditions knocked him all to pieces, and there did not seem to he any finality. The ljd charge would mean £30 increase on a yarding oF 6000 .sheep iii' one day, which would come out of the ratepayers pocket. The Clerk then intimated that it was only \d increase charge that the company was asking. Cr. Lill said this altered the-posi-tion. However, the Council was asked to spend more money, and get nothing in return for. it. He believed' it would he a good thing for the Council to take the yards over on August 1. It was then decided not to accept the Saleyards Company's offer, the Council to take .possession on September.!, and run tho yards.