ABATTOIRS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7998, 21 June 1904, Page 3

ABATTOIRS.

Deputation To The Mayor.

Mr Hurley Stands Firm

A deputation consisting of Messrs Guy, Copeland, Barraud, H. ,T. Mm.son, Hadfiold, Hodgias. Mohro, W. P«rk, Cooke, F. Mowlom, A. 8011, Preece and Elliott, waited on the Mayor at the Council Chamber yesterday, i:» regard to the abattoir questioa. .In introducing the deputation Mr Guy said the present state of things should not bo allowed to continue, but steps should be tafcn to secure ftio immediate inspection of meat. Mr Barraud spoke, in similar strain a firm stand should be taken against a continuance of what.had gone on in the past.

Messrs P. Cooke, Copeland, W. Park, H. J. Manson and F. Mowlera also spoke, urging the necessity for immediate aciion.

.In reply, the Mayor referred to his expression of opinion on the subject during the Mayoral e'ection, but the time had passed, for the present, when the Council could get abattoirs of its own. Under such circumstances he thought the only way out of the difficulty was to go to Longburn. After referring to the letter from the National Mortgage Co., and the butchers' meeting (as reported in the Manawatu Daily Times), ho said he intended to act with firmness in the matter. The public health must be protected, and the neceaaity of meat inspection had been recognised by Parliament. He pointed out that the deputation that had attended the last meeting of the Council consisted of three butchers only, one not in business, and ho had since learned the views expressed then did not represent the views of the butchers of the town. It had not been representative, and yet it might imperil the negotiations with the company which made, a point of the. butchers being unanimous. If the butchers thought the people were at their feet they never made a greater mistake. It was rumoured that the Longburn Company intended opening a retail shop in the town. If so, they would have a license and the butchers would not, so that, according to' law, there would only be one shop in the town. If there was going to be a clinch between the butchers and the people he knew who would win. He was pleased to find that his action had been approved by a large and representative seotion of the community, and it would strengthen his hands because the system of " putting off" that had obtained for so many years in Palmerston was again endeavouring to raise its head. It was a side issue to talk about erecting works and guaranteering interest, and if the matter went on, the town would be in the samo position as before, and where the butchers evidently wanted it to be. If they were afraid of inspection of meat, there was something wrong, and if they were not afraid there was Longburn to go to. The existing Council should not bind the hands of a succeeding Council, but in this matter there was no option, and the Council would have to be bound to a two-years' contract. But in the meantime a site and money could be obtained and at the end of the term there was no reason why the :■ town should not have abattoirs as good as any in the colony.. Referring to the offer made by the Feilding authorities to help the town in connection with the question, he said they deserved the warmest thanks of the people of thi town, and on their behalf he thanked the FeildiDg Borough Council for the offer they had made. In conclusion, he promised to place the views of the deputation before the Council.

;. Mr, Guy thanked the Mayor for the firm stand he had taken in the matter, which had the approval of the ratepayers.