PUBLIC ABATTOIRS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1508, 24 January 1901, Page 57

PUBLIC ABATTOIRS.

; MEETING AT JOHNSONVILLE. 7 A meeting of butchers and Jchnsonyille .settlers was held at that township last week, there being a total, attendance of twenty-six, including Wellington City representatives. .Mr Cook, chairman of the Johnsonville Town. Board, who was voted to the chair, said' the meeting was called to Consider the advisableness of establishing public abattoirs in We district. Mr Cook • then called up on Mr Majendie, the 'convener "of the meeting,' to lay his view's 'upon -the, irtatter before ~ the .gathering.' ' -w'Mr .' Majendie said .it was important that steps should be taken in the direction of establishing abattoirs before the 31st of March.' If action were not taken by then, the chance would b© gone for ever. There were-provisions in the Act whereby, any local body or-bodies could take steps to institute abattoirs provided rte time limit he had mentioned 'was observed. The money requisite for such purpose could be borrowed from the Government at 4 per cent. The local authorities by whom the abattoirs might he put up would be the controlling body thereof. It was obvious, the speaker pointed out. that it would be to the advantage of all residents in the district if abattoirs were established in Johnsonville, and he had beers invited to call the meeting with the object of testing the feeling c-f the residents. He would suggest that a committee of three or four residents should be appointed to consider the whole question, and to report to another meeting. Mr Mitchell asked if there was nothing in the Act to compel Borcugn, and City Councils to build abattoirs themselves. He was under the impression that those ■bodies were by law compelled to do so. Mr Majendie was of opinion that those bodies were able to delegate their powers.

Mr Rod cc-ntraverted that idea. In his opinion the Act specifically laid -down that the bodies themselves- should carry out the erection of meat exportslaughterhouses. Mr Majendie reiterated hie opinion that the power of delegation existed.

He was not a- lawyer, however, and he was of opinion that the question should be referred to the local committee which it was proposed to appoint. He pointed out that if the Johnsonville Town District Beard put up the abattoirs it would reap the benefit of the revenue arising therefrom. If there were any good sites available in the district for the slaughtering —sites suitable in the opinion of the Government officers who would have the settlement of such a question—he was- of opinion that Johnsonvill© would have a great chance of doing the slaughtering for both the Hutt County and Wellington city. Mr Robert- Boult! said it was important to make an early move in the di_ recti on indicated. Whoever made the first move would undoubtedly have the greatest chance of succeeding. Mr Mitchell thought the question of including meat-free sing works should be considered, but the voice of the meeting was that this question was one for afterconsideration. The speaker said there was something radically wrong when North Island lambs were at 10s and Canterbury lambs at- 19s. Mr Majendie jocularly said that was " a trick of tire trade which Mr Mitch eil should know something about.’'’ The question of taking a poll for the purpose of authorising a loan for the erection of abattoirs was brought up by Mr Rod. who to of ©pinion that a pell was not necessary under the new Act. On consulting the Act- it was found that in. districts with a population of over 2060 a poll was unnecessary. A suggestion was put forward by Mr Majendie that the- committee should? wait upon the Town Clerk and Mayor of Wellington to ascertain the feeling of the Council. ■ Mr Robert Benin moved that a committee of seven, with' power to add to the number, be set up to consider the whole question of abattoirs.. He moved that Messrs Mitchell, Majendie, Beech, Rod, Baker, Philp and the chairman of the Johnsonville Town. Board (Mr Cook) -be Lie committee. This was seconded b-y Mr Thomas Bould, and' was carried unanirn cri-sl y. Mr Rod suggested that the committee should' he required to report to another meeting within a fortnight.

Mr Cook thought, if possible, the meeting should be held in a week. Mr Mitchell was of opinion that a week would hardly suffice toi institute inquiries as to sites. Others were inclined to think that the site question was premature. It would be sufficient to meet the ISity Council in the first place, and report on that point to the next meeting. The date on which the committee would report to the next meeting was left open. Votes of thanks to the convener and chairman of the meeting concluded the business.