Poultry Conditions Cause Concern

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1939, Page 3

Poultry Conditions Cause Concern

The time had arrived when the keeping of poultry within certain sections of the borough, or on sections which were smaller than hair an acre, should be prohibited. This recommendation by the borough inspector was received by the Whangarei Borough Council last night.

Complaint From S.P.C.A

The matter arose from complaints from the Whangarei branch of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which stated that its inspector had submitted very unfavourable reports on the conditions under which various poultry-owners in the town kept their birds. The borough by-laws contained comprehensive provisions to cope with the matter, but they were seldom, if ever, observed, the letter stated. “Disgraceful.” The result was that the state of affairs in some poultry runs was, to say the least, disgraceful. A systematic inspection of poultry houses and runs in the borough had not been undertaken in the past, stated the inspector in his report. It appeared, however, that only a few places in the borough were visited by the S.P.C.A. inspector, these being at tunes when the ground was wet from constant rain. Enforcing the present by-law would mean that almost all poultry owners would be unable to keep birds owing to the expense of building propel houses and runs. Referred to Committee. “I don’t want the matter discussed in open council,” said the Mayor, Mi W. Jones, when councillors referred to the inspector’s recommendation. Accordingly, a motion accepting the inspector’s report as a reasonable ! statement of the position and in I standing him to ensure that the byj law was carried out in a reasonable manner was withdrawn, and the Question was referred to the legal and finance committee.