Where should saleyards go? A debate spanning decades

Kem Ormond takes a look at farming back in the day. In this week’s Pastures Past, she’s found newspaper articles on saleyards.

The location of saleyards has long been a subject of debate, as seen in the articles below.

In many districts, communities carefully weighed up the advantages and disadvantages before deciding where to establish them.

Early saleyards were often located near the heart of a township, where they were convenient for farmers and stock agents.

As towns grew, however, difficulties emerged.

Livestock being driven through the streets posed risks to pedestrians and cyclists, while effluent from the yards could contaminate nearby waterways.

Increasing traffic volumes also made it more dangerous to move stock between farms and saleyards via roads and highways.

Below is a selection of historical stories from the Hawke’s Bay Tribune (1928), Central Hawke’s Bay Press (1941) and the Northern Advocate (1944 and 1945).

The saleyards site

Hawke’s Bay Tribune, July 6, 1928

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Have the gentlemen who oppose the removal of the saleyards site any children attending the nearby school?

Only on Wednesday last a lady teacher was thrown from her bicycle when passing a mob of cattle between the saleyards and the school.

About the same time, a small girl suffered the same fate and had to be conveyed home.

These are two instances. No doubt there are plenty more.

Also, do any of the aforesaid gentlemen live anywhere near the saleyards?

If so, probably an alarm clock is not much use to them.

—Yours etc. QUERY.

Hastings, 6/7/28.

Feilding Saleyards may have to be moved

(Per Press Association)

Pollution of stream

Central Hawke’s Bay Press, February 25, 1941

Feilding, Last Night.

The existence of the Feilding live stock saleyards is threatened by legal proceedings which have been started.

It is understood that the Manawatu Live Stock Auctioneers have been served with a legal process claiming damages and applying for an injunction restraining the concern, as proprietors of the saleyards, from creating an alleged nuisance.

The legal process has been instituted because of alleged injuries suffered by a landowner who claims that the drainage from the saleyards is polluting the Makino Stream.

The damages claimed are understood to be in the vicinity of £800.

The situation arising from these proceedings must be of some concern to Feilding because of the importance of the saleyards to the town and district.

For 50 years or more the saleyards have served a wide district and have grown to paramount importance in the realm of live stock selling in the North Island.

Thousands of heads of stock pass through these yards every year, and their central situation affords unusual facilities for the quick handling of all offerings.

The Feilding Borough Council, it is understood, has considered the situation, for it knew that there was some complaint about the alleged pollution of the Makino Stream.

Want removal of Kamo Saleyards

Northern Advocate, August 11, 1944

Support for the removal of the saleyards at Kamo was sought by the Kamo Town Board of the Whangarei County Council today.

The board considered that the saleyards were too near the town area.

The chairman (Mr J. Morrison) moved that the council should support any move to meet the position.

Stating that the present was not an opportune time for removal of the two saleyards as a great amount of timber and concrete would be required, Cr. R. Feaver moved an amendment that the council should support the removal of the saleyards but considered the work should not be done until after the war.

Plans could be made now for the future, he considered.

Cr. W. C. B. Powell doubted if it was the function of local bodies to endeavour to bring about community yards.

Explaining that he had not thought the motion would embarrass anybody, the chairman withdrew his motion as he considered the amendment on the right lines.

Councillors supported Cr. Feaver’s suggestion, which was adopted.

Control of saleyards on State Highways

Northern Advocate, June 14, 1945

Controlling the building of saleyards on State highways was advocated to No. 1 Highways Board meeting in Whangarei yesterday by the chairman (Mr W. L. Bell).

He said that with saleyards on highways, traffic congestion occurred not only with stock but also through parked cars.

He suggested that saleyards should be set back from the road to allow of a parking ground.

This suggestion was supported by members who considered that some form of regulations should be framed to control the erection of saleyards on highways.

It was stated by Mr Bell that the stock firms were prepared to co-operate and a resolution was carried asking the Highways Board, in consultation with stock firms, to bring down regulations governing the erection of saleyards on highways.

- Source: Papers Past