'CACKLING' COUNCILLORS

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 23 August 1928, Page 10

'CACKLING' COUNCILLORS

PROTEST BY POULTRYMEN. DEVONPORT RESTRICTIONS RESENTED. MASS DEPUTATION. Over a hundred people supported a protest against the new by-law proposed by the Devonport Borough Council for the restriction of poultry in the marine suburb. Headed by Messrs. A. Large and A. Forbes, they crowded into the council chamber and overflowed into the street. This was in response to an invitation extended by the council at its last meeting that it would be pleased to hear what the local poultrykeepers had to say about the new regulation, which proposes to restrict the number of fowls on any one section to twenty head. "The keeping of fowls is not a crime," declared Mr. Large, in a speech interlarded with Scriptural and Shakespearean quotations. "It is a pleasant hobby, quite as justifiable as playing golf or gardening. Provided they are properly kept and housed, they cannot be a menace to health. I understand that complaints have been received about cackling. Do not .forget, gentlemen, that it was the cackling of geese that saved the CapitoL I would rather hear the cackle of a fowl laying a decent egg any day to hearing the cackle that sometimes goes on in this chamber." With a few remarks about the Pharisaical fervour of some councillors, and a quotation from the Book of Revelation, directed against lukewarm councillors, Mr. Large assured the council that there was a large body of public opinion behind this action of the deputation. Mr. A. McR. Forbes dramatically enjoined the council to tear up the by-law, or they would hear more about \t. He represented that the proposed restrictions would prejudicially affect many resident#, as several poultrykeepers derived a portion of their livelihood from selling eggs. He declared that there were 1200 poultry-runs in Devonport, and the new regulations would affect 7000 head. Hardship would also be involved if the by-law were enforced at this time of year, when young birds were just coming into laying. He further affirmed that modern method* could make poultrykeeping quite sanitary. "It is a strange thing," said Mr. F. Mortimer, "that as soon as anyone gets on the council he attempts to curb the liberty of someone eke. There is too much irterference in local go*Trnment. l&rt tt m £9E ft fe engj

soon it will be cats. I would like to add my protest against any as proposed."

In reply, the Mayor (Mr. E. AMridgef denied that the council was actuated by any motive such as that suggested by Mr. Mortimer. With regard to th» suggestion of "cackle" in the counefl chamber, he could freely say there had been more "cackle" in the last few minutes thair during the last twdf» months. He explained that necessity had demanded the amendment of the existing by-law. Numerous complaint* against poultry were continually sent in to the council, wherein the nuisances at smell, flies, filth, rats, and noise were specially chargeable to adjoining poultiy» nms. _ It was the council's duty, as the custodians or good government in the borough, to pay attention to such com* plaints, and the present regulation had been framed after consultations with the local sanitary inspector and ths Health Department. Surely no sensible person would say that in a residential suburb like Devonport anyone could keep poultry In any number and just how they pleased. Speaking from ex* perience he knew that poultry de» manded unremitting care and attention, to maintain a sanitary state of affairs. With regard to the number of poultrykeepers, he assured Mr. Forbes that only 600 had paid their shilling license fee, and the council would ask for more cooperation from the poultry keepers so far as that was concerned. finally ha assured the deputation that the council would give every consideration to their request, but it was determined to control the borough in the best interests of all the residents.

When the deputation had withdrawn, the council decided to invite representatives of the Poultrykeepers' Association to confer with it before the by-law is confirmed, with a view to co-operation in a reasonable regulation of poultrv-keep-lng in Devon port.