MEAT FREEZING.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1929, Page 6

MEAT FREEZING.

CO-OPERATIVE FARMERS’ WORKS

AFRAID OF RIG COMBINES

AUCKLAND, January 21

“ The fanners are desirous of keeping the co-operative meat works open because they are alarmed at the operations of the big combines,” said Mr A. E. Robinson, provincial secretary of the Auckland branch of the Farmers’ Union in an interview. “ Special antitrust legislation has been introduced in the United States, but it does not protect the foreign interests. If all the meat works of this Dominion pass into the hands of the big overseas companies we shall, I fear, have the same arrangements in New Zealand, hence the farmers want to keep the cooperative works open. There were already enough freezing works in Auckland province when permission to build the Westfield works was given. These works, controlled by Yestcys, are always busy during the season. Foi some years complaints have, 1 undcistand, been made as to the offal department at Westfield by reason of overcrowding, and in applying to make additions more than a year ago, the company asked also lor further killing facilities. As there are works idle in the province, and additional killing facilities would enable a big company completely to control the sheep and lamb market through its great buying strength, with the possibility of shutting up the farmers’ works altogether, the Farmers’ Union strenuously opposed the extra killing facilities being allowed.” “On June 22, 1928, the Minister ot Agriculture informed the Farmers’ Union that certain alterations were agreed to on the express condition that the existing killing daily capacity of the works was not to be exceeded. That was a precise and definite condition. Yet-it is said that the company has not only increased the capacity to kill sheep from 3000 a day to 5400 a day, but is applying for permission to use the extra hooks. Apart from the political use that is being made of the discussion in certain quarters m order to drive a wedge between Mr Poison and the United Party the question is simply one of fact. The policy question was settled by Mr Hawken’s statement, unless it is raised afresh by the new Minister of Agriculture.”