ABATTOIR FEES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19974, 8 July 1930, Page 9

ABATTOIR FEES.

DEFICIENCY OF £260. NO REDUCTION OR REFUND. "In August of last year," stated the report of the Abattoir Committee to the City Council last evening, "a deputation representing the Canterbury Master Butchers' Association waited on the committee and requested that the committee give consideration to the question of making a refund to members of the Association in respect of fees received in excess of the limit allowed by. the Slaughtering and Inspection Act.

"The deputation stated that its solicitors had made an examination of th« Abattoir Account, and was of the opinion that the Council had collected such excess fees.

■ "As a petition presented by the New Zealand itefrigeracing Company to the Ahm&ter for Agriculture, requesting him to order a rotund in respect oi tecs charged in respect of stock slaughtered at the company's works was tnen under consideration, the master butchers' request was held over. "When the dispute with the Refrigerating Company was settled, the master butchers renewed their request, but as it was not possible at that stage to ascertain what effect the reduction in fees to the freezing companies would have upon' the abattoir - finance, the matter was again held over until such time as the' balance-sheet for the year had been prepared. "The City Treasurer has now submitted a statement of accounts which shows that the profit from the abattoir undertaking for the v«ar ended March 31st, 1930, amounted to £1960, as compared with £3907 9s 8d lor the previous year, the difference being accounted for by the reduction in the fees charged against the fieezing companies. •'The estimates for the en&uing year show a deficiency of £260. The City Treasurer therefore states that he cannot recommend either the reduction in fees charged to users of the abattoir, or a refund of fees paid in respect of previous years. He further points out that as the Abattoir Account will be required to provide the interest and sinking fund on the £34,000 improvements loan now being raised, it wouKl appear that the deficiency in future years will increase. "With a view to obviating the necessity for increasing the fees, however, he suggests that such deficiences be charged against the Profit and Lore Account,, which at present shows an accumulated profit of £7390, until such time as the - whole of this amount has been absorbed, when it will be necessary to rwiew the position. "The committee recommends that the City Treasurer's recommendation be adopted." Cr M. E. Lyons suggested that the clause be referred back for further consideration. . Cr. H. T. J. Thacker said the Becond last paragraph contained a dastardly proposal. .... (fr. Di Q, Sullivan, M.P., said the matter should bet discussed by the. Finance Committee. The running ot the abattoir at a loss could not be defended ~ , , Cr. E. H. Andrews said the regulations for the establishment of abattoirs wero strange land, wonderful. The Council could not make a profit, but it could make as'much loss as it liked. He had learned from the Agriculture Department that the butchers had.no claim against the Council. It was impossible to see how the Council could avoid a loss unless the fees wero £30.000 to £40,000. Although the Minister had authorised the charging of certain fees, the Council had later been obliged to make a refund. Cr. J. W. Beanland suggested, the consideration of the matter at a joint meeting of the Finance and Abattoir Committees. It might do a lot ot good and put the position in a clearer X!r.° J. Farlane said the position was a difficult one. A number of butchers had gone out of business and it would be a very big problem to allocate the promts. jj Butterfield said the matter had been discussed time and again with the master butchers. He did not think the Council could come to any decision other than that on the said that the effect would be to carry the balance forward ana use it against losses. The clause was adonted.

Improvement Scheme. The Abattoir Committee reported that the plana and specification for the improvement scheme for the yi y Abattoir have been completed and tenders called-for the work. The specification covers the whole of the alterations to the old building, the erection of a two-storey slaugnter-house in reinforced concrete with annexea buildings, such as a dining-room, offices, efagine-room, etc., and also covers the rebuilding and covenng-in of the stock yards. The machinery work, such as. removing engine, fixing meat rails and hangers, switches, meat iwWs and conveyers, and also the electric light and steam supply wil form a separate contract, - which will carried out simultaneously with building contract. The specification for these separate contracts has yet to be completed,. but this will be proceeded with immediately and tenders called for the balance of the work as soon as possible.. , The clause was adopted.