PUBLIC ABATTOIRS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4257, 17 January 1901, Page 6

PUBLIC ABATTOIRS.

MEETING. AT JOHNSONVILLE. A meeting of butchers uad Jolinsod.--vilic .settlers was held at that township las» night, there being a mini attendance of twenty-six. inclu ling 'Wellington, City representatives. Mr Cook, chairman of the Johnsonville Town Board, who was voted the chair, said the meeting was called _ to consider the advisablcaoss ot establishing public abattoirs in me district. Air Cook then called upon Mr Majemiie, the convener of the meeting, to lay hi-', views, upon the m'altcr before the gathering. Mr Majemiie 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 he gone for over. There were provisions in-the Ad. whereby any local body or bodies con Id take steps to institute abattoirs pro-’ vided t-o time limit lie bad mentioned: was observed. The money requisite lor Mich purpose could be burrowed irom Cue Government, at 4 per cent. The local authorities by whom the abattoirs might be, put up would he the controlling body thereof. It -was obvious. the speaker pointed out. that it would he to tile advantage of nil residents in the district if abattoirs wore established in Jolmsanviile, and ho had been invited to call the meeting with the object ot tes('ing the feeling of the residents. ile would syggost that a committee ot threeor four residents should be appointed to consider the whole question, and to report to another meeting. ' Mr -Mitchell asked if there was nothin!.' in the Ai ) to compel 80r0n,1... and City . Councils to build 'abattoirs themselves, (lie was under the impression that those | bodies were by law compelled to do so. Mr Majemiie was of opinion that those bodies were able to delegate their powers. | Mr Rod controverted that idea. In bis opinion the Act specifically laid down .that the bodies themselves should carryout the erection, of meat export slaughterhouses. Air Majcudie reiterated 1 his opinion that the power of delegation existed. Ho was not a lawyer, however, ; and he was of opinion that the question, .should, be referred t° the local committee which it was proposed to appoint. He pointed out that if the Jchnsonvillo Town District Board - put up the abattoirs it would-reap the benefit of the revenue arising therefrom. If there were any good sties available in the district for the .slaughtering—sites suitable in. the opinion of the Government officers who would have (lie settlement of such a question—he was of opinion that Jolinsonvillo would have n great chance of doing the slaughtering for both the Hutt County and Wellington city. •_ . Mr Robert Bould said it was important to make an early move in the di_ rection indicated. Whoever made the first move would undoubtedly have the greatest chance of succeeding. • Mr Mitchell thought the question of including meat-freezing 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.

Air Majendie jocularly said that was “a trick of the trade which Air Mitchell should know something about.” The question of taking a poll for +,bopurpose of authorising a loan for the erection of abattoirs was brought- up by tr Rod. who was of opinion that a poll was not necessary under the new Act. On consulting the Act it was found I hat, in districts with a population of over 2000 a poll was unnecessary. A suggestion was put forward by Mr Majemiie that the committee should! wait upon the Town Clerk and -Mayor of Wellington to ascertain the feeling of the Council. Air Robert Bould moved 'that a committee of seven,, with -power to add to the number, bo set up _to consider the whole question of abattoirs, He moved that Messrs Mitchell. Majemiie, Beech. Rod, Baker, Philp and the chairman of tbo John.sonville down Board (Mr Cook) be me committee. This was seconded by Air Thomas Bould, and was carried unanimously.

Mr Rod suggested that the committee shoukWic required to report to another meeting within a fortnight. Mr Cook thought, if _ possible, the meeting should be held in a week. Mr iuitcnffil ras of opinion that a week would hardly suffice to institute inquiries as to sites. Others were inclined to think that the site question was premature. It would bo sufficient to meet the City Council in the first place, and report on that point to the next meeting. The date on which the commit)on would report to the next meeting was left open. Votes of thanks to the convener ami chairman - of the mooting concluded the business.