COMPETITION FOR SPACE IN FREEZING WORKS

Chronicle (Levin), 26 July 1947, Page 6

COMPETITION FOR SPACE IN FREEZING WORKS

— 'vr WELLINGTON,' July 25. In the House this afternoon thMinister of Agriculture (Hon. E. L. Cuilen) moving tlie secoud reading of tlie Meat Amendment Bill, said the Municipal Association had asked that the controlling autliorities of abattoirs be aliowed to fix the fees and charges by resolution instead of by by-law as required at present, and the Bill gave eft'ect to that request. Local autliorities were required to give 14 days' publie notice of the proposed resolution to alter the fees and the approval of the Minister of Agriculture was required before any such resolution beeanie effective. The Minister said another clause provided that before any, iicensee of a meat freezing works entered into any cominitment for the sale 'or leasing of his freezing works he must first obtain the consent of the Minister or the consent of the Meat Producers' Board acting with the Minister 's authority. Mr. Cullen said an obligation was imposed by the Bill on licensees ot siaughterhouses to accept stoelc foi slaughtering from cooperative groups of owner-producers. As the principaJ A-'t stood the obligation was restricted to individual owner-producers. JMr. K. J. Holyoake (Xat., Pahiatua) said the Opposition approved of the faet that the Bill had been introduced on the basis of cooperation and agreement between the parties eoncernod. It gave el'fect to various improyemenis which had been asked for by\ local bndies and would make possible" better sauitary and health conditions in the slaughtering of meat for the local market. Mr. P. Kearins (Lab., Waimarino) said Kew Zealaiul exported her best quality meat and wliat was left was sunplied to her own people. He had neard it stated that freezing works were in the retail meat trade to enable them to gct rid of their reject niear which was not, however, ujifit for hunian consumption. He considered' the time liad come to stop the wliolesale meat industry going into the retail trade and squeezing out the butcliers. Mr. R. G. Gerard (Nat., Ashburstonj said he welcomed the Bill. The clause relating to the sale or lease of t'reez- 1 ing works would enable the Meat Bo&rd to know wlien an export licence was likelv to come up for sale. Mr. T. L. Macdonald (Nat., Wallace) said tlie fanners in his district were concerned as to the rights of cooperntives regarding space, and he was glad to see that the necessarv facilities had been given to the people of South land to carry on killing and marketing on a cooperative basis. Mr. K. M. Algie (Nat., s Remuera , said under the priucipal Act an individual meat producer applied for space at the works and got it. It kept an "open door" for individuals. , If tlie Bill proposed to giv0 cooperatir.es the- same right, which was a nia'udatofy entitlement to space, would it not be. possible for a cooperative to be, placed in a monopolistic position by applying for and getting all the space? . ^ . Mr. A. S. SutlierlaniT ;(Nat.| Hamilton) said the time wc|uid .cotfje ; wk'eu New Zealand would agiqil; li:ave-:to. cqmpete overseas with oth^pccmnti-ies a$id second and third grade iueat should not be exported. Mr. Cullen said tlie space problem m works was a big oue, especially iii youtliland. Applications for space created a problem for the works and for the ' Meat Board. • They did their best to obtain space. Hon. Walter Nasli said cooperative concerns were not previously recognised for space rights, but tliev

would now get the same rights as individuals. The Bill was read a second time and the House adjourned at 5.50 until 2.50 on Tuesday.