NEW BUILDINGS AT SALEYARDS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27424, 10 August 1954, Page 12

NEW BUILDINGS AT SALEYARDS

Riccarton Council’s Approval

“ RENEWED TENURE FOR COMPANY ”

Plans for the building of new offices and refreshment rooms at the Addington saleyards were approved last even', ing by the Riccarton Borough Council, provided all building and health bylaws and requirements are .met. Speaking in support of the decision, made on the recommendation of the finance and by-laws committee, of which he is chairman, Cr. E. J. Bradshaw said that approval of the committee’s recommendation would, for all practical purposes, give the Canterbury Saleyards Company a renewal of its tenure in that area for a considerable number of years. This w r as an important matter the point of view of not only Riccarton. but the whole metronnlitan area, said Cr. Bradshaw. The saleyards was an important industry, affecting the whole of Christchurch. The resoonsibilities and troubles associated with it were therefore metropolitan troubles and responsibilities. That was a very good reason why the council should give this question even more, careful consideration than that which it normally gave to all matters. On more than one occasion the council had had from its health inspector a report that the refreshment and luncheon room facilities at the yards were substandard from a health point of view. The officer had recommended that action be taken to remedy the position. Several months ago, the Saleyards Company had applied for permission to build new luncheon and refreshment rooms and offices which would provide thoroughly up-to-date facilities.

It was realised then, and it was still realised, just how important that application was, said Cr. Bradshaw. If the application was approved, for all practical purposes it would amount to the Saleyards Company being given a renewal of its tenure for a considerable number of years. For that reason action on the application had been delayed. Over a period of years there had been objections to the saleyards being in their present position and there had been strong agitation for their removal. Droving Objection About 90 per cent, of the objections had been due to the fact that livestock was driven to and from the yards. There had been isolated objections to a fly nuisance in the summer months, but that was spasmodic and not serious, said Cr. Bradshaw. In the last year or two objection to droving had been largely overcome by an alteration in the stock routes. The company’s application had been referred to the District Officer of Health for his opinion on the running of the yards, said Cr. Bradshaw. The officer was quite emphatic that the yards were being run in a perfectly satisfactory manner from a health point of view, and he considered that there was no likelihood of a nuisance being created. Under the tentative plan drawn up by the Metropolitan Town-Planning Authority, the ground ■on which the saleyards stood was not zoned as an industrial area, and under that plan the saleyards would be a non-conform-ing industry. The tentative plan, however, had no legal standing. The town planning committee had never had legal powers or standing. It was only an advisory body. In Christchurch town planning was now in a state of transition due to the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act last year. A new authority was now in the course of being formed and it seemed quite obvious that it might be a considerable time before it was properly constituted and ready to face its problems. The new authority would have wide legal powers.

Government Purchase Something should be said about the advantages of having the saleyards in their present location, said Cr. Bradshaw. For a great many business people it was a matter of convenience. Some persons in thinking of the removal of the yard looked to the area being a highly desirable residential area. It was very unlikely that this would ever come about It was necessary to be realistic' The shifting of the saleyards would involve a tremendous expense and he could not see any planning authority facing up to this cost for dubious advantages. His committee had come to the conclusion that it would be unreasonable to hold up action further in fairness company. The committee had not been unanimous in its recommendation, he added.

I think we are doing the right thing in allowing this to proceed,” said the Mayor, Mr H. S. S. Kyle, before the council adopted the committee’s report.