Magistrate's Court NO PERMIT FOR PIGS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29220, 2 June 1960, Page 6

Magistrate's Court NO PERMIT FOR PIGS

Defendant Fined £3 “The defendant obviously kep pigs without a permit, but if i is. true that other residents of th Heathcote County Council hav kept -pigs without a permit on can understand his indignation a being singled out to comply wit’

the by-laws—particularly if, as h says, one of those persons was member of the council." said M E. A. Lee. S.M.. in the Magistrate’ Court yesterday.

He convicted Hector Matthev Jarden on a charge, brought b; the Heathcote County Counc’l, o keeping pigs within the count? boundaries without a permit or or about October 30. The defend ant, who was represented by M V. G. Spiller, was fined £3. H pleaded not guilty. Mr I. D. Bennetts appeared fothe council.

During the hearing Jarden al leged that three other persons i’ the county had also kept pig without a permit—including Ci Scott—but only he had been prose cuted. Robert William Morris, Heathcote county clerk, said complaint; were received in November, 1958 about the defendant’s pigs running loose on his property in Pori Hills road. A neighbour, Mrs Spence, had complained that one of the pigs had entered her back yard. After being advised that he should have a permit to keep the pigs Jarden applied to the council for a permit and a health inspector subsequently inspected the property, said the witness. The defendant was then informed of measures needed to comply with the by-laws, including the construction of sties for the pigs, drainage, and utensils for feed.

“I received no further word from thg defendant and no indication that he would conform to the by-laws,” the witness said. After a further complaint in June last year about pigs running loose the council resolved not to grant a permit to keep the pigs. An inspection a few days ago showed that there were still pigs on the property, he said. To Mr Spiller the county clerk said he did not know that Councillor Scott had kept pigs until recently—“without a permit.” He said the council had resolved to issue a permit to Jarden providing he brought the sties up to standard. It was later decided not to give the permit because of further complaints, and because no effort had been made to improve the pig sties. The defendant said the complaint from his neighbour, Mrs Spence, was about a sow getting into her garden. At that stage he was negotiating with her to have the fence repaired. “It Is the only fence on my boundary not In first-class order,” he said. He said three others in the county kept pigs including Mr Scott, whose last two animals were wild pigs brought from View Hill—“and he’s a member of the council.” The defendant said that if he was not allowed to keep his pigs he would have to dispose of his dairy herd as it would not be economic. He had kept about 400 to 500 pigs but had gradually reduced this number. BUILDING WITHOUT A PERMIT

For erecting a garage at a property in Templeton without a building permit from the Paparua County Council J. Bassett was fined £2.