For many years the farmers of Waimea West had been selling stock at the Richmond and Brightwater saleyards, but in August 1938 farmers were called to a meeting at Brightwater to hear a report that the saleyards at Richmond were to be disposed of and moved to Hope. Messrs Dalgety and Co. Ltd informed them the decision had been made and that the Brightwater saleyards would also be closed and all centralised in Hope.
The site of the Richmond yards was said to be no longer suitable. The Council favoured a suggestion to move the yards to the A&P Association’s grounds near the gum trees which would put them in a much better position. They decided to write to the Richmond Branch of the Farmers’ Union in an offer of co-operation in any steps that could be taken to retain the saleyards in Richmond.
Opposition from farmers was swift, as they feared it would be a backward step. Several meetings were held and protests made against the proposed change, but it all fell on deaf ears as they were not able to change the minds of Dalgety and Co. The Farmers’ Union concluded that the farmers purchase both yards to ensure their continued use. Dalgety’s offered the farmers an option to purchase the yards on certain conditions.
Ninety per cent of the farmers on the plain favoured the retention of the two yards as they are handy to both districts. Shopkeepers in both Brightwater and Richmond also protested against the proposal to centralise as it would result in a loss of business in the two towns on sale days. The farmers claimed that the proposed Hope yards would not be as near to the railway as the present yards at Richmond and Brightwater, there would be no water supply or conveniences, and that the proposed site was out of the way and inconvenient for obtaining meals or doing shopping.
A series of meetings were held with an outcome that the farmers would form a company to purchase the Richmond and Brightwater saleyards in order to retain the facilities rather than having the auctioneering companies establish one saleyard at Hope to serve the whole district. Both yards were leasehold, the Richmond ground being in the Harley estate, and the Brightwater area owned by Mr W. Max. A committee of 14 was formed to proceed with the formation of the company. Mr L. W. Gardner was appointed secretary and stated that the capital of £4OO would be subscribed and the company then assumed control of the yards.
Farmers were invited to take shares, which all did but one. Dalgety and Co. and Loan and Mercantile Agency, sold both yards for £250 to the new farmers company, named the Richmond Brightwater Saleyards Company. Conditions of the sale included that Dalgety and Co., or any auctioneer, would retain the right to sell on the ground, the yards were to be maintained in reasonable order, and that the companies would not build yards within a 10 mile radius of Richmond and Brightwater.
With the saleyards secured, the Farmers’ Union stepped away to allow the new company full control.
