SLAUGHTER CHARGES RAISED

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1931, Page 10

SLAUGHTER CHARGES RAISED

ELTHAM BUTCHERS. OBJECT. The master butchers of Eltham have sent a letter of protest to the Mininster of Agriculture against the projected-in-creases in the slaughtering fees at the Eltham abattoirs. : - “ They have received advice that the charges are to be-increased as follows: Ca,ttle from 7s to 9s per head, sheep from Is 3d to 2s, pigs ail increase of 9d per head.:

It is contended that they are being asked to pay considerably more in slaughtering fees than neighbouring towns. At New Plymouth, and Stratford the fee for cattle is only. (Is 3d per. head; compared with 9s at Eltham. The former figure includes yarding; whereas the latter does not. Sheep fees are only Is 3d at these towns compared with 2s projected at Eltham. The Eltham butchers receive no allowance for offal and fat, which the butchers of New Plymouth and Stratford receive and sell. Thus it is pointed out that slaughtering charges at Eltham become 50 per cent, higher than at other towns. GENERAL ITEMS. A young woman very nearly missed the mail train at Stratford yesterday. The express was already on the move when she and an escort appeared outside the booking office some distance beyond the guard’s van. With a complete disregard of appearances, she took a firm grasp of her belongings and sprinted down the platform, the crowd considerately standing back to give her a fair sporting Although she did not notice the fact, the stationmaster had already signalled the train to stop, and -i was slowing down when the woman sprang for a hold at a carriage entrance, missed,, and measured her°length on the platform. Fortunate-. ly a porter was handy and managed to brehk her fall, with the ’result that the woman was able to board the then stationary train none the worse for her experience. NEW AUCTION MART. NEWTON KING, LTD.’S VENTURE. . In consequence of the' opening of a mart, the rear premises of .Newton King, Ltd., in Broadway have undergone a transformation. From the public counter down .past the entrance to the stock de-, partment’s office there has been arranged a comprehensive display. o-f samples , of the .firm’s goods,' .including smaller machinery, seeds, manures and general merchandise of every description. It is, in fact, just such a comprehensive display as would be made at a winter show. To the right of this entrance to the mart and on the left of the Fenton Street entrance, has been built a commodious office with windows opening into the mart. Here the cashier is able to keep a close check upon the progress of the sale, and here, also, purchasers are able to make payments without in any way interfering with the work of the auctioneer. This person operates from a raised stage where he has ample room to display the goods he is offering to the view of everybody in the room. There was a crowded attendance da Saturday for the first sale, when .130 head of poultry were all cleared' at prices ranging up to Bs. 7d,, 150 cases of fruit were disposed of at from 2s. 9d. to 4s. each, and sundries met with ready sale. The sale was conducted by Messrs. C. W. Williams and G/<Pugh. ■' Mr. Williams expressed pleasure that the attendance at the opening sale was so large. “It is 18 years since sales were last conducted in the premises,” he said, “and'l understand that years ago farmers and the general public looked upon this mart as a suitable place to assemble to discuss their many problems and incidentally to transact business with the firm of Newton/ King,' Credit for the reopening of this branch of our business is due solely to Mr. Yarndley, our local manager, who set the ball rolling a few weeks ago by suggesting to the directors the advisability of again running an auction mart. The directors very wisely acted ; upon Mr. Yarndley’s suggestion. “We are offering the best possible service and' have made arrangements with growers through the North Island and parts of the South Island to supply us regularly with fruit and other produce,” continued Mr. Williams. “All goods entrusted to us for sale will receive our best attention, and when sold payment will be made promptly. There is one more thing I wish to say, and that is with regard to one of the conditions under which this mart will be run. The terms of sale are strictly for cash, and the majority will agree, I believe, when I say that to run a business of this nature successfully it is essential to ' work on a cash basis. I am of the opinion that with public, assistance and support we will progress all right.” The management is optimistic of tha future and feels certain that the sales will be as successful as those held many years ago. STRATHMORE NEWS. The annual footballers’ ball was, held in the Strathmore Hall on August 13, when there was a good attendance. The music was supplied by the Dixie Four orchestra. The opening of the Strathmore Tennis Club’s season was held on Friday. The bright sunshine attracted a very large attendance, there being well over 50°peoplo present, including vistors from surrounding districts, Over 40 players took part in the games. Afternoon. tea. was supplied by the ladies.