STOCK-DRIVING AT RICCARTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17264, 4 September 1916, Page 4

STOCK-DRIVING AT RICCARTON.

COUNTY PROTEST AGAINST NEW

BY-LAW

Tho Springs County Council, at its monthly meeting at Springston, received a letter from the Akaroa County Council, bringing tinder notice a bylaw restricting the driving of stock through the Kiccarton Borough. It was pointed out that on an average 15.000 sheep and 500 eattlo passed through the Addington Saleyards each week, and that the, time allowed under the by-law for driving stock was not sufficient, especially during the winter months. The probable intention of tho Ricoarton Borough Council was to compel the Saleyards Company to shift its yards. The Akaroa County Council considered that, from the point of view of the farming community, no site as suitablo as tho present one could be found, and if tho yards were moved to Sockburn it was tolerably certain that another market would be started to meet tho requirements of tho more northern part of Canterbury. Tho Springs Council was asked to protest against tho enforcement of the by-law. Mr V. C. Wolfe moved a motion of protest against the by-law. Its enforcement would be a hardship to tho farmers, and would bo detrimental to the most convenient market in New Zealand. Christchurch, in particular, had much to lose by the removal of the yards, for at present farmers were able to take their stock to tho market and go on to the city to do their business. In seconding tho resolution, the chairman (Mr M. F. .Ryan) said that onco the market was shifted from Addington, it would cease to be tho principal metropolitan market in the Dom nion. No matter what part of New Zealand ono happened to bo in on Thursday morning, he would soo the report of the Addington market in the newspapers. It would, in his opinion, bo a great mistake to move the yards. The motion was carried unanimously.