BOMBSHELL FOR FREEZING INDUSTRY

Chronicle (Levin), 15 February 1947, Page 8

BOMBSHELL FOR FREEZING INDUSTRY

— PROCESSING MATERIALS NO LONGER AVAILABLE "A bombsheil has descended on the f.yeezing industiy which will put the brake on killing and atfect us all generally, " said Mr. A. Stewart, president. of tiie Feilding bran'ch of Federatcd Farmers, when speaking at a meeting )f the branch comniittee yesterday when making reference to the fact that supplies of sodium, an important element used in the processing of skins and pelts, were no longer available The sodium, he said, was mixed with lime and this preparation was applied to the skins and pelts to facilitate their treatment. Before the wai' Japan iud Belg'ium were the ehief exporting countries of sodium but recently Gen eral MarArthur had closed down on the 'xport, excepting for America, * from Japan. As a result of the war condi iions in Belgium were chaotic and there had been practically 110 * export of the comrnodity. New Zealand held eonsiderable stoeks prior to the-wyar out these had now been almost coinpletely exluiusted. Some freezing worlcs were riglit out and the Feilding worlcs was oue without supplies, wliile some ot the South Island works had a little to carry 011 with. 'Ihe only alternati ve to the use of the sodium mixed with lime, was to dry the .skins but to be suecessfuJ in this method called for under cover ac; commodation. Freezing interests aa(l Government representatives nvet i|i Wellington to tliscuss ihe position antl decided to take over the showgroum'. buildings and they would be used for the purpose of drying the skins, a pro cess that took up to live days. I11 Pal iiierston North the showgrounds build ings had been takeu over and would be used jointly by the Longburn and Feilding works while the Feilding showgrounds buildings were also to be used by the local works. "The prospects are very bad and. the ouflook for ncxt season by 110 means bi'ight," declared Mr. Stewart. There would be a slow-dojvn in killing and this would mean a longer season and greater cost to the industry. Ilandling charges would mount and, in short, the whole of the freezing -industry would be thrown out of gear. There was also tlie matter of wool packs and bags, continued Mr. SteAVart, who referrcd to the closiug down of the Foxton factory because of the lack of water from the Manawatu Itiver arising from a cut in the river 's course. The freezing industry made eonsiderable use of bags and with the supply virtually cut oif, -it would increase the probleius of this industry which so vitally conceyned farmers. Despite the fact that' the war was over the country was facing a period of many shortages whieh materially affect- ' ed the industry of the country. Alr. L. D. Legg asked vvliether the Go\rerninent was aware of the position and Mr. Stewart stated that, as repre scntatives of the Agricultural Dopartment were present at the Wellington eonf'ereiice, tho Goveriiment was in l'ornied of the position. Apparently, he continued, General MacArthur had thrown a spanner in the works by pro hibiting the export of sodium from Japan to other than America. There was the further problem of a shorlage of wire as this was required to liang the skins. 0 vMr. G. Bailey remarkcd that sureh the Government would arrange for supplies of sodium to be released from Japan for New Zealand. Mr. Stewart did not know whetheT this would happen but it did not appear likely sinee Mr. Tennant of the