GREY STREET SALEYARDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9159, 8 March 1910, Page 5

GREY STREET SALEYARDS.

DISCUSSED BY PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE AND AUCTIONEERS,

HEALTH OFFICER'S OPINION TC BE OBTAINED. At the request of the Borough Council representatives of the local auctioneering firms attended the meeting of the Public Works Committee yesterday afternoon to discuss matters in connection with the Grey street saleyards site. At the commencement of the proceedings the Mayor asked the auctioneers if they had anything to add to the letter written to the Council by Mr R. S. Abraham on their behalf, in which lie gave reasons for the objections raised to the concreting of the cattle pbns. Mr R. S. Abraham, on behalf of the auctioneers, pointed out that the firms concerned had endeavoured to meet the wishes of the Council when they found objections raised to the Grey street yards, having gone so far as to sacrifice the money they had in the first instance agreed to pay Messrs Dalgcty and Co. for an interest in their yards, and entering, into arrangements for the lease of 16s acres adjoining, the acquisition of which, together with roading work : and construction of yards, would involve them in very heavy expense. Alter completing their arrangements they were astonished to iind the Council insisting upon the new cattle'pens being concreted, which would mean heavy expense, and was in the opinion of the auctioneers, unnecessary. In insisting upon the latter condition the auctioneers thought they had not been treated fairly. Mr Abraham then produced a cutting from the Dominion showing that at Duncdm ooicctions had been raised by the butche s to the concrete floors' at the abattoir. When the cattle slipped on the concrete thov were badly bruised and the Council considered the representations of the butchers of sufficient importance that t ev were meeting to consider what would prove a suitable substitute for concrete With regard to sewer connection and roncrotecl pens. Mr Abraham said he did not their absence yax^s Abraham) had written to the: Clnef „ ~hc (Mr Abraham) would bo.sorrj kittle oene he considered that trie en foicement of such a condition was a guarantee that the Council would not intertoro with the vards, but the speaker Sited on that if in the future the vent it The fact of the auctioneers benT invited to meet the Council again after the publication by the "Standard o interviews with business men was proof that the feeling in the town inuet goxern th L 6i reply O 'lo the Mayor Mr Abraham said the auctioneers would not agree to concrete the yards. The auctioneers had K put to a good deal of expense, some of it unnecessary, in their effort to secure vards that would be more suitable tor the townspeople than the existing ones, and they regretted the latest obstacle placed in their way. He would however like to take the opportunity of con-n-ratulatinsr those Councillors who had opposed the concreting work from the outset, also those who had altered their opinion in regard to the concrete and considered that in reversing their decision they were acting in the interests of the town. Mr Abraham concluded by stating the auctioneers had decided that if the decision of the Council was adverse to them, and they were forced to remove their yards from Palmcrston, that they would go.: to another town, whore the people, apparently, recognised the value of the yards. To such an extent did those people value the yards that a few years ago when it was proposed to erect joint yards at Buniiythorpe they made a great uproar, proving at once that they wore determined to keep the business in their town. Mr Abraham concluded by stating that if the auctioneers did remove to the town referred to a second Addington would be established there. After the auctioneers had retired tho Committee discussed the matter, it being eventually decided to obtain the Health Officer's opinion on the Grey etreet yards.