Foxton

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6626, 12 August 1931, Page 8

Foxton

BOROUGH COUNCIL From Our Own Correspondent. Tho monthly meeting of the Foxton Borough Council was held on Monday evening. Those present were tho Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perroau) and Crs. Cowley, Rangihcuea, Crowe, Barron, Harvey, F. Robinson, John Ross, Thompson and the town clerk (Mr. W. Trueman). An apology for absence was received from Cr. Christie. When tho road foreman’s report (previously published) was under discussion Cr. Cowley drew attention to the bad condition of tho road at the eastern end of Union street, and asked that the xoad foreman bo instructed to give the matter attention. Tho Mayor said that unfortunately the Levin road had been blocked owing to flood waters and Union street, as a continuation of tho Shannon road, had been called upon to carry all the through traffic, which it was never intended. to do. He understood steps were being taken to raise the level of tho Levin road at Whirokino, and a public meeting was being called with that object in view. He understood that the Manawatu County Council and the Main Highways Board wero also doing something in the matter. Cr. Robinson said' the road in Union street was in a disgraceful condition. He considered that all the borough streets were being neglected owing to the road foreman being employed ! in supervising the planting jobs. “I have no hesitation in saying that' tho roads in the borough aro in a worse condition than they have been, for many years past,” he added. The Mayor pointed out that the estimates for tho maintenance of roads had been severely cut down, and the condition of the road in question was partly due to the economies effected. - Cr. Robinson; We can’t let the roads go to pieces altogether. The Mayor said people must put up with tho roads as they were; otherwise tho estimates would be exceeded' and heavier rates would bo necessary next year. Cr. Robinson said the council should be ashamed to take money, from tho motorists with the roads in their present condition. It was going to cost hundreds of pounds to get tho roads in order again, he added. Cr. Barron complained that the grader was not being used frequently enough. It was very infrequently seen, and there was enough metal lying along the sides of the roads to put them in order, he said. The discussion ended with the adoption of the report. Crs. Barron and Robinson then moved that it be a recommendation to the foreman to use the grader more frequently on the borough roads. This was carried unanimously. •The treasurer’s statement, together

■with tho waterworks and gasworks reports (previously published), were adopted, and accounts amounting to £1152 7/11 wore passed for payment. The number of tenders received , for the renting of a number of sections which had recently passed into the council’s hands was considered very satisfactory, and showed that a good demand existed for tho use of land within tho borough. Tho Foxton Bowling Club was granted a renewal of its lease for a further period of 21 years at a rental of £2 per annum. The Kairanga County Council forwarded a cheque for £l2 14/4, being Foxton’s share of heavy traffic fees. Tho amount collected by the Foxton Borough Council was £56 14/8. Mr. and Mrs. A. Fraser were accorded a vote of thanks for having donated a number of books to tho public library. A letter from Mr. I. W. Mudford, addressed to tho Chamber of Commerce and handed on by that body to the ■council, requested that proper water channels should be laid down alongside the footpaths in Whyte and Duncan streets. The matter was . referred to the road foreman for a report. .

Alarming Conditions at Slaughterhouses Cr. Robinson drew attention to a matter which he said vitally concerned the interests of the residents of Foxton. He was referring to the practice of allowing diseased stock condemned by the Government stock inspector to be killed in .the local slaughterhouses. Until recently, said Cr. Robinson, all condemned stock had been brought into the railway yards and sent to Balmerston North for destruction. At the present time, however, he said, tubercular and other diseased stock was being brought into the local slaughterhouses and killed on a 12ft. by lOtt. door under appalling conditions. He pointed out that thero were no facilities locally for the proper cleaning and sterilising of the such as existed in Palmerston North and ■ elsewhere. He added that farmers objected to having diseased beasts killed on their properties for fear of spreading disease, yet the animals were allowed to be killed locally on the same floor where meat was subsequently killed for human consumption. It was impossible to disinfect and clean the local slaughterhouses without adequate supplies of boiling water, etc. After describing the revolting conditions as ho had seen them, Cr. Robinson expressed the hopo that someone more able than he would take the matter up in the right direction. It was bad enough to havo to eat meat which was not killed'dn an abattoir, he said, without having diseased animals destroyed in the same place where meat for human consumption was killed. The Mayor pointed out that the slaughtering licenses wore issued by the Manawatu County Council and not ■ by thq Borough Council, He thought

the matter was one for the health authorities. Cr. Cowley said that if Cr. Robinson’s statements were correct, the matter should certainly be referred to the Health Department. 1 Cr. Barron expressed the opinion that as long as the meat was properly cooked there was no danger. “I don’t think there is anything to worry about,” he said. Cr. Crowe took strong exception to the practice of allowing the diseased stock to be killed in the local slaughterhouses. Although certain precautions were taken, it would be impossible to kill all the germs, he said. Cr. Robinson: It is a very serious thing. Other councillors agreed that the practice should be stopped, and after further discussion it was resolved that tho attention of the health inspector be drawn to the fact that condemned stock was being slaughtered in local slaughter yards where killing was also carried on for human consumption, and asking that condemned stock be destroyed elsewhere. Cr. Barron voted against the motion.