N.Z. MEAT TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 May 1927, Page 1

N.Z. MEAT TRADE

[UY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.,

AY ELLINGTON, May 4

Replying to a resolution of the Farmers’ Union regretting the Aleut Board’s apathy towards the safeguarding of the smaller works, the Secretary of the Meat Board wrote on the lines of the recent statement of the Board, ending in the assertion that much of the trouble was due to the apathy of the farmers themselves, in the lack of loyalty to co-operative concerns. At a meeting of the executive of the Farmers’ Fuion to-day. the President (Mr Poison) said he was satisfied that the number of works left would not be able to cope with the stock to be frozen. ‘‘Wlu'ii that comes about and we have only three or four exporters left, because the fanners are not in a position to pay, there will be a combination of interests dangerous to the farmer, as has happened elsewhere.

WjAJRARAPA AT,ABM. MASTER TON, May ■!

Tho nnouneenient yesterday from Wellington that the YVairarapit Frozen Meat Coy had merged with the Wellington Meat Export Coy was somewhat premature. Before this merger can take effect it must he submitted to the shareholders of the Wairarapa Coy for approval, and they arc to meet shortly.

Complaints halve boon made locally that this merger would amount to the betrayal of the local interests, it being pointed out that the farmers and the townspeople have put their money into their works on the distinct understanding that they would lie kept going! On the other hand, it is stated, on authority, that the merger proposals would never have arisen had the termer shareholders in the local works supported them by sending their stock there to be slaughtered. The amount of stock needed for economical working is raised in the district but it lias not found its way into those works. If the merger takes place, the Wairarapa’ Coy will simply terminate its lease, and the works will remain in the hands of the bank, which holds them as security, and the Company is therefore not in tho position to guarantee that the works will not be taken over and carried on by the new company.

It is estimated that the closing <>! the works will mean a loss to tbe trade of Maslcrton and Carterton of over £•20,000 per annum. AVEIJJNTOX, May I.

At the Farmers’ Union Executive meeting, dealing with tho plight of the smaller meat works likely to he eliminated bv tho merger, a member ol the Executive. Mr Morrison (Maxwelltown) said that what was wanted was the elimination of preference to unionists. as slaughtermen were knocking off about -f p.m.