THE ABATTOIR NUISANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9183, 12 October 1888, Page 5

THE ABATTOIR NUISANCES.

At the regular meeting of the City Council yesterday a report was received from the special committee appointed by the Council under the following resolution That a special committee be appointed to consider the best means to secure the disposal of the refuse, and to thoroughly abate the nuisance complained of by the petitioners; and, in the event of the committee, after due consideration, finding that the refuse cannot be dealt with, or that it be impracticable on account of cost, the Council will then undertake to close the City Abattoirs." On this the committee sent in the following report : — Your Committee, appointed under the foregoing resolution, recommend as follows: That such alteration be made in the construction of the Abattoirs as will allow all offensive matter to be conveyed direct into a properly constructed cart, and that tenders be called for the daily removal of the same in such a cart to a distance of at least five miles from the Western Springs, the contractor to provide a depot to be approved of by the Council, and the cart or carts to be away from the Abattoirs not later than twelve o'clock noon on each day except SundaysThat the present inspector be discharged, and applications invited at once for a successor, whose duties shall be defined by the Council. —W. Ceowthkr, chairman. The Chairman said in order to open the business to the Council, lie would move the adoption of the repo. t. Mr. Lennox seconded the motion. Mr. Evans said he was rather disappointed with the report. _ He understood tnat the object of the committee was to be to arrange with the Newton Borough Council as to closing the abattoirs, and lie was sure in its present form it would not satisfy the ratepavers of Ponsonby ward. Mr. Then with contended that the committee was appointed, to deal with the question of removing the offal, and they had dealt with it, and if the offal was removed daily live miles away no nuisance could arise to Ponsonby or any other part of the city. Mr. ParkELL also expressed his disappointment with the report. Ho expected the committee to have dealt with the whole question of the abattoirs, and he urged that they were being carried on at a loss to the city, and were offensive to a large section of the community, besides which the Council had no right to carry 011 business in competition with private individuals. The Chairman said that the Committee decided that in terms of the resolution they had 110 power to deal with the question of closing the abattoirs. Mr. Cooper said he was prepared to move tha the question of closing the abattoirs be referred to the Finance Committee, and that they be asked to report as to whether they were paying. He would move this if he thought it would be of any use. He did not agree with the report, although he was a member of the committee by whom it was brought up. Mr. Smith, another member of the committee, also dissented from the report. Mr. Goldie commented on the remarks made, also 011 the fact that the petition which was sent to the Council from Ponsonby was largely signed by children attending public schools, so that the feeling in Ponsonby could not be so strong as was represented. He urged that it had not been shown that the abattoirs did not pay, and that the proposed provision would prevent any nuisance arising from the abattoirs, and they would not be justified in closing the abattoirs where there was 110 nuisance in order that other people might be induced to close their places. Let them, he said, give it a trial for six months, and if in that time it was found that thev were a financial failure or a nuisance, then by all means let them do away with them. he committee, he contended, had dealt with the matter as far as their powers allowed. Mr. Hewson also urged that the recommendation of the Committee should have a fair trial. Mr. Cooper and Mr. Swales spoke in regard to the nuisance complained of. Mr. At kin" said that while sympathising with the Ponsonby Ward members, he thought the nuisance they complained of did not exist, and they knew it, and they ought to have been prepared to submit some scheme for utilising the buildings and the land, so that they might be as remunerative as they were at present, and if they could do that, he would go in for closing them. Mr. Patterson also urged that the recommendation of the Committee should have a trial, and he thought if it was done there would be no nuisancc, but if it was proved to be a nuisance it must be removed. Mr. Evans moved that the report be referred back to the committee to ascertain from the Newton Jiorough on what terms they would prohibit obnoxious trades which gave rise to offensive smells in their district. He spoke at some length on the whole subject of the nuisances arising from those trades. Colonel Dig.van- said if the latter portion of the amendment was struck out, he would second it. As it stood, it would bind the Council to one line of action. Mr. Evans declined, and Mr. Smith then seconded the amendment as it stood. Mr. _ Cooper contended that they had established a good case. It was admitted that nuisances existed in Newton, and until the City Abattoirs were removed, they could not ask them to refuse slaughterhouse licenses in their district. They admitted that the City Abattoirs need not be a nuisance, but they were an excuse for the existence of other nuisances. That was the only way in which they could reach these. Mr. Holland saw 110 harm in referring the matter back to the committee. No doubt eventually these abattoirs would have to be closed. After some further remarks, Mr. Goldie pointed out that sending the report back would only continue the nuisance (if any existed) for which the committee proposed a remedy. _ The amendment was put. Aves, 6 : Messrs. Evans, Layers, Smith, Holland, Swales, and Ejirreli. Noes, 8 : Messrs. Da vies, Warren, Irenwith, Atkin, Goldie, Diguan, Cooper, Hewson, Patterson, and the Chairman. The motion was then put and carried. Tne latter part of the report was referred to the Legal Committecj to define the duties of the inspector