Farmers To Defy Closing Of Yards

Northern Advocate, 13 January 1948, Page 8

Farmers To Defy Closing Of Yards

WELLINGTON, Tue. (P.A.).—The recent action of the Upper Hutt Borough Council in announcing its intentio to close the saleyards in the town for health reasons has aroused opposition from farmers in the district. Mr L. Andrews, chairman of the Upper Hutt branch of the Federated Farmers, said yesterday that farmers had no option but to defy the council. •‘So far as farmers are aware, a sale is listed for next Thursday, and that sale will be supported by the farmers of the district,” said Mr Andrews.

The saleyards in Upper Hutt provided a necessary service for farmers in a wide area, and they would not. accept the council’s decision without a fight. GIVEN NO NOTICE Farmers had been given no notice, although the proprietors of the saleyards had been instructed to cease operations immediately. Mr Andrews said the council claimed its decision was because of the lly menace, but the saleyards operated only once a month and the council had taken no steps to remove other and greater dangers to health. He declared that the new mayor and councillors were using the fly menace and the poliomyelitis epidemic to close the yards, defy the farmers and retard food production. HEALTH COMES FIRST In reply, the Mayor of Upper Hutt (Mr E. W. Nicolaus) said that tho council, in the interests of the community’s health, would adhere to its decision not to allow further stock sales in the borough. The council having withdrawn the licence for the yards, any further sale would be an illegal act.

The council had twice returned cheques sent to it in payment of a licensing fee for the saleyards, and on the outbreak of the poliomyelitis epidemic decided that further sales must be absolutely prohibited on the ground of the menace to health caused by flies.