Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 9 August 1935, page 3


DUST, FLIES, SMELLS,

AND NOISES

SALEYARDS "MENACE"

MEDICAL EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY Bringing Market to Buyers

Medical evidence was given before the Royal Commission on the Newmarket Saleyards yesterday that noises smells dust and flies associated with the yards were a menace to the health of people living near the yards. Other evidence supported the retention of the Newmarket Saleyards because it was a modern trend to bring markets to buyers rather than to attempt to bring buyers to markets.

Messrs. E. Gorman K.C. (chairman)

J .A. Webster and J. Felli are the members of the commission which has been ap-pointed by the State Ministry to investigate the suitability or otherwise of the New market saleyards.

Mr M. M. Dunlop is appearing to assist the commission Mr. A. C. Secomb (of Messrs. Secomb and Woodfull) represents the munlci- palities of Footscray, Essendon, Braybrook, Werribee and Williamstown. Mr. Macfarlan, K. C., and Mr. N. O'Bryon (Instructed by Messrs. Whiting and Byrne) appear for the Graziers' Associations of Victoria and Southern Riverina the Melbourne Stock and Station Agents' As-sociation, the City and Country Land, Stock,

and Station Agents' Association, the Master Butchers Association and the Melbourne City Council.

Dr. M. H. Box, medical officer for Foots-

cray declared that the collection of large numbers of stock in a confined area created dust much of which was pulverised manure. Through the agency of flies which were a great nuisance in the area this disease-laden dust was carried on to foodstuffs particularly liquids. Dust in any form was detrimental to health. Barking of dogs and the shouting of drovers and other noises made a shattering din at night and would cause a condition of insomnia among residents in the area near the saleyards.

Mr Macfarlan - Despite the dust, smells, noises and flies, Footscray is about as healthy as any other suburb.

Dr. Box -But it is capable of improve-

ment.

Mr. Macfarlan-That is so with every other suburb.

Dr Valentine Griffith who preceded Dr. Box as medical officer of health in Foots-cray supported the evidence of Dr. Box Cross-examined by Mr O'Bryan, Dr

Griffith admitted about five years ago he had said that Footscray had a low infant mortality rate. At the time he was very proud of the low rate. The health of Footscray residents compared favourably with that of residents in other industrial suburbs. This was the only fair com-parison.

More Selling in Paddocks

Mr Isaac Job Weaver grazier of Boort said that there was a growing tendencj among graziers to sell their sheep while still in the paddocks Instead of sending them for sale by auction at Ncwraaiket Direct selling brought better prices and country killing had increased consider

tbly recently It would be sheer madness to enlarge the yards to enable them to cope with the yardlngs we experienced at the peak period last season he added If larger yards were erected at Laverton

Derrimut two-thirds of the enlargement would be Idle most of the year

Fears Uiat loss of competition from bujers would result from the removal of the saleyaids to a site 10 miles from Mel-bourne were expressed by Mr Alfred Mel-bourne Mactier retired grazier who give evidence on behalf of the Chamber of Agriculture Lot splitting would be almost sure to Increase By that he meant that several buyers would contbiue to select one of their number to do the buying for all thus reducing competition

Dioving Difficulties

Losses to producers would be caused by the enforcement of the Footscray bj-law restricting the droving of stock to be

tween midnight and 8am said the works manager of Thomas Borthwick and Sons Pty Ltd meat exporters (Mr John Simp son) At each weekly sale In the peak of the export season the firm bought up to 25 000 sheep and lambs These had to be driven four and a half miles to the Arms works aftci being held at New-market until midnight There were no suitable watering and holding facilities at the yards and holding under those conditions would depreciate the value of the lambs This would have to be taken into account by the buyers If the stock had to be trucked bj rall instead of droved the additional handling costs and greater risk of bruising would also penalise Hie grower Of the lambs bought at New

market about 4J pel cent were rejected for e\port because of bruising The per-centage of rejection among lambs bought in the country was a great deal lowei

Because of this he would prefer to handle stock bought at country sales

Mr Patrick J Keenan a grazier at Yan awonga said that about 90 per cent of the gra7ieis in the north of Victoria foi oured the retention of the yards at New

mart et Two reasons were that the cost of removal would be too gi eat and if removed competition would be i educed The cost of removing the yards and the allied trades would be about £6 000 000 In Sydnej the competition of letail butchers was weakei than at Newmarket Mi Keenan said that to extend the present jards towards South Kensington would overcome the difficulties complained of

The commission will lesumc at 11 am to daj _