Stock Loading Yard At Paroa Regarded As An Urgent Need

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 September 1950, Page 2

Stock Loading Yard At Paroa Regarded As An Urgent Need

The urgent need for providing a stockloading yard between Greymouth and Hokitika was stressed yesterday when representatives of the Greymouth Master Butchers’ Association met members of the Federated Farmers (West Coast). Also in attendance was Mr P. C. Bennett, of the Railways Department and after all angles of the proposal had been discussed, Mr Bennett gave an assurance that he would make recommendation to his department for some provision to be made on the rail route for stock loading. • It was the unanimous opinion that all concerned —the farmer, butcher, ratepayer and consumer —would be greatly benefited if a loading bank were constructed.

“From Hokitika to Greymouth at the moment we have only the one-stock-loading yard, and that is the railway yard, at the wharf at Greymouth,” said Mr A. Wilson in opening the discussion. “There are a number of farmers on this route who would appreciate a loading yard. At Camerons we have to take them nine miles and through Greymouth, and there is sometimes trouble.” Paroa Favoured Mr Wilson said that he thought that most use of the yard could be made if it w r as established at Paroa. Farmers were not asking for anything elaborate, but some improved facilities were definitely necessary. The Blaketown Ratepayers’ Association and the Master Butchers’ Association were two other organisations which were in support of the proposal. “This would be a very wise, longterm policy,” said Mr G. J. Dick. “The wharf is absolutely congested and there are sometimes delays of three hours or more. It is not the railways fault.”

“Hundreds of trucks a year come from south of Hokitika, and the Blaketown residents are rightly complaining about the danger of cattle being driven through the area to the abattoirs,” added Mr Dick. “Apart from helping the butcher and the farmer, I think that the Government would be amply recompensed by the overtime saved at the wharf.” “The present yard is a downright disgrace. Cattle, which are ‘heated’ when trucked, have to face the cold weather, and are also molested by shunting and other noises, which, have serious effects when they are killed,” said Mr R. Gibbons. “It would be an act of humanity to have the loading facilities at Paroa.” “It is amazing that cattle have to be unloaded in what may be termed the centre of the town,” said Mr C. A. Jamieson. “A town of this size should not have its unloading facilities in a position where the cattle have to be driven through the town. People don’t realise the hair’s-breadth escapes they have.” Department’s View

Mr Bennett said that the Railways Department did not favour having the stock yards in Greymouth. “However, it will cost £4OO to erect a cattle yard on the route. Would you be satisfied if we shifted the present yard to Paroa? It is no use having those facilities at the wharf, and leaving them there to rot, if we build a yard at Paroa.”

Mr Dick: There is a serious bottleneck at present, which would be eliminated if we had a yard at Paroa. The two yards would still be required. Mr Bennett, in stating that he would recommend to his department that consideration be given to the project, added, that it might be possible to transfer some small yards in mid-Canterbury, which were not used greatly. Mr Dick, in reply to Mr Bennett, said that the yard would need to hold about 50 head.