STATE CANNERY PROPOSED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24914, 29 June 1946, Page 3

STATE CANNERY PROPOSED

OBJECTIONS FROM FEDERATION

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 28. The New Zealand Fruit 9nd Vegetable Canners’ Federation, in a statement on a suggestion from the trade union that the Ptikekohe dehydration plant should be operated as a State cannery, says that existing canneries are fuDy capable of providing all the Dominion’s requirements, and that a State cannery would be both redundant and uneconomic. “With the exception of certain fruit not produced in the Dominion, and normally imported canned,” the statement adds, “the existing canning industry can produce all the canned goods required, particularly now, since many canners have imported, modernised, and extended their plants to meet the heavy service demands in war time. “At least one big firm intends to continue its expansion, with the introduction of quick-freeze and other modern advances in produce preserving.” Those who were urging a State cannery might well ponder the fate of a similar venture in Queensland, the statement continues. Before being closed down, the Queensland State Cannery lost £143,000 of the taxpayers’ money. An additional cannery in New Zealand would be tempting a similar fate, and the Government equipment at Pukekohe should be disposed of like othenffar assets.