STOCK YARD LICENSE FEE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3478, 14 October 1926, Page 3

STOCK YARD LICENSE FEE

REDUCTION SOIKUIT. The decision of the Manawat.u County Council and adjoining county councils, to impose a charge of £1! :is on all salcyards established in their districts, rcsullcd in a, letter of protest being received from the Manawatu and West Coast Live Stock Auctioneers’ Association at yesterday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council. The Association claimed; (1) That the stock industry is in a very parlous condition, and owing to the fall in values in stock, It is unite impossible now, owing to heavy costs, to get any return for the work done.

(2) These yards are established purely for the convenience of small farmers who are unable to afford the time and expense of driving small lots of stock to the bigger centres, and if the fees imposed are insisted on, wo must either close down the yards, or pass the charge on to the farmers. (3) As you are aware, the farming industry is suffering very materially from the fall in values of produce, and wo are most unwilling to make our charges higher than they arc at present.

(4) These yards are mostly established at a considerable distance from any habitations. They should not reiiuiro any inspection, and many of them are only used about once in every two or three months. The Association considered that such yards as Rongolea.. Himatangi, and Fox-ton, should bn exempted, or be subjected to a nominal charge of say half a guinea, hut no more. It was pointed out during the discussion, that the Manawatu County collected only £6 fis a year, which represented commission on (ho sale of £ 1 r> o worth of stock, it was a. very small sum to a-sk for, and councillors did not. see why the Association should object. It. was agreed that (.ho yards were a convenience, to (lie small farmer. On the molion of Or. Fagan, it was decided io defer consideration until the fees next, become duo.