SERIOUS EFFECTS OF BUTCHERS' GO-SLOW

Chronicle (Levin), 21 June 1947, Page 5

SERIOUS EFFECTS OF BUTCHERS' GO-SLOW

-Pres$ Assoclation

Auckland Farmers' Heavy Losses

By Telegrclph-

AUCKLAND, June 20. " Now in its fourtfa week the ' '.goslow" policy adopted by the beei butcliei'S in the tive freezing works in the Auckland province is bringing added winter problems to J'armers. Twenty-five beef butclisrs ceased work at Westfield on March 21 but resumed work on April 28 after a tribunal had been arranged to mvestigate the dispute which coneerned the apportionment oi' payment between regular beef butehers and extra workers. The tribunal sat 011. May 1 but lissatisfaetion with its finding ivas shown 011 May 10 when tlie beef butehers again ceased work. fhe men returned 011 Alay 20, but the general "go-slow" poliey spread throughout the beef butehers in the province. Farmers' hopes of a good winter with plenty of i'oed i'ollowing the exeeptional autumn growth are i'ading as the "go-slow" potiey eontinues. Beef cattle which had reachod top weight and which should have heon eonsigned to the works long ago are now making inroads on the winter food.

Uulled eows which the farmers thought had been dried off for tlie last time and which should have made hone beei' hy now are making extravagant demands on feed while the stock is held. Ineome payments are delayed at a time when the I'armer most needs the monev for property improve.nents. This aspect of the beef bntcli;rs' dispute is I'alliug most heavily jn the reliahilifated men and young farmers wlro lack the capial of the more sh'onglv-estaiiiish-ed farmers. With the prospects of a promising o])ening to the new loason at their fingerti])S i'ollowing ihe disasirous lack of feed last winter ihe farmers are frustrated Oy having to feed useless eattle. The stores for produce for export are reported to be still reasonably full in spite of the five weeks' sii-ike at Westfield and th e » geu erti ]•■«•* '\go-slo w " •' " 'aotion which I'ollowed it. Because the cargo re(|uirements could not he rilled in Australia New Zerdand has been allowed more than its normal share of Brit'sh refrigerated shipping tonnage. The Dominion. lieeause of its exceptionallv high meat production', has not vet iovsi anv of the advantage ot' ihe shi]iping position 'but a long eontinuation of tlie butehers' dispute eould jeopard'se this favourable opportunity.