Fat Stock Disposal Order Should be Quashed

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 21 March 1944, Page 8

Fat Stock Disposal Order Should be Quashed

CAUSING BIG LOSS OF NEEDED MEAT The operation of the Fat Stock Disposal Order was criticised at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Central Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union at Marton, when it was unanimously resolved to request the Government to cancel it. In presenting a resolution from the Feilding branch requesting tho cancellation of the order, Mr. K. 11. Buchanan stated that its operation had resulted in heavy losses to fat lamb producers because farmers had been unable to get their lambs killed when ready. He understood that, the Meat Board was powerless in the matter and that it was necessary to convince the Minister of the adverse effects of this regulation before anything could be done. He hoped that strong action would be taken before next season. Supporting the resolution, Mr. J. B. S. Dudding said that tho hold up in the killings had meant considerable to producers. He knew of sheep having been drafted and then being held in yards for two or three days before being killed. Actually some stock had died through starvation because of the operation of this order, which prevented a fanner from sending his stock to another works when circumstances called for the immediate killing of the sheep. It was not only the question of the monetary loss incurred by tho producer but the real loss of meat which Iho country suffered through a regulation which lost sight of these important factors. Ho knew of a case where a draft of ewes had been divided, one lot going to one works, where they were immediately disposed of, and the other lot going to another works, where their killing was held up for two days. The loss in returns amounted to Is 2d per head on the sheep which had been left standing in the yard, and this represented many pounds of meat. The chairman (Mr. D. G. Gordon) felt that tho resolution asking for the withdrawal of the stay order should go further and emphasise the loss of meat arising from the operation of tho order. Agreeing, Mr. Dudding said that it was altogether ridiculous that sheep should be permitted to die of starvation when tho country was crying out for extra meat and it was all because of an order which prevented a farmer from disposing of his fat sheep to whichever works would take them. Mr. F. C. Jurgc-ns remarked that the freezing works had been honest with one member in offering an explanation for the delay in killing which he agreed should never have occurred. However, in his case his killing sheet was dated the day the sheep were still on liis farm! (Laughter.) Mr. H. D. Richardson slated that tho operation of the compulsory holiday over the Christmas period, the busiest time of the season, had had serious repercussions. He knew of sheep being held up for a week or ten days and, on account of the shortage of feed duo to the dry spell, half had died because of the closing of the works. The position was very unsatisfactory. Mr. L. Hammond stated that tho order was a matter of Government policy and had been introduced to conserve petrol and tyres. The necessity for such conservation still pertained, but he agreed that some action was required to prevent any recurrence of tho incident which took place this season. The Meat Board was not in favour of the sfay order. “That holiday," he said, “ cost the freezing works thousands of pounds." Continuing. Mr. Hammond stated that the now legislation regarding holidays would be a serious matter since he understood that it had been calculated that it would cost the freezing industry alone £150,000. *k member: Which means that the added cost will be passed on to the farmers! Farmers were very dissatisfied over the treatment they had suffered in consequence of the operation of the Fat Stock Disposal Order, said Mr. W. G. Booth. If lambs ready for drafting could not be taken at the works tho farmer was bound by law to send them, and he could not send them elsewhere without tho permission of tho buyer. It was very unsatisfactory. Tlio resolution was carried and it was agreed to forward a copy to the Meat Board and also to Messrs. M. H. Oram and E. B. Gordon, M’s.P. for Manawatu and Rangitikei respectively;.