MEAT BILL AMENDMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20050, 23 September 1939, Page 15

MEAT BILL AMENDMENTS

SALE BY FREEZING WORKS PIG KILLINGS ON FARMS FARMERS’ UNION PART Comment regarding the action of the Farmers’ Union on amendments to the Meat Bill has been received by Mr. C. Blackburn, Poverty Bay provincial secretary of the union. “The union gave evidence on the Meat Bill,” stated a letter from the Dominion secretary, “and was successful in obtaining amendments in the farmers’ interests. “The clause which would have prevented freezing works from selling rejected meat was, largely at oui instigation, cut out, and the retention of this avenue for getting rid of rejected meat is thus retained. “Of our provinces, Southland alone was in favour of the restriction on the freezing works, but it was pointed out by the other provinces that*- if this avenue was closed there would be a great loss of revenue to the country, and that no expansion of butchers’ sales would make up for the loss of this market, which, in many cases, is a means whereby people in poorer circumstances can obtain the best class of meat. i Difficulties Overcome “The union was also successful in arguing the case for farmers in remote districts—particularly those in the Sounds—in having inserted a new provision in the bill to provide that the Minister might grant a permit in respect to the slaughter of pigs which is now restricted under the new Act. This will get over the difficulties of our people in districts where communication is bad. “We also pointed out that in the bill as it stood there would be'a restriction on a farmer who had a run and a farm, which would prevent him from slaughtering stock on the farm for consumption on the run, or vice versa. This position has not been altered.

“On the whole our representations were very fairly met, and in this connection I would like to pay a tribute to the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee of (the House, with whom it is always a pleasure to deal.”