"AFFCO is arrogant" says Raetihi

Ruapehu Bulletin, 20 August 1991, Page 2

"AFFCO is arrogant" says Raetihi

BY

DENNIS

BEYTAGH

It was evident from last week's public meeting in the Waimarino Club that Raetihi residents are solidly behind the proposal to establish a meatworks in that town. More than 100 people turned up on Thursday night to support the meat processing plant proposal and to condemn AFFCO's objec-

tion as "arrogant and stupid." "Arrogant" because by using "big brother" tactics it attempted to over-ride the interests and aspirations of the local community and "stupid" because exactly the same processing plant could be established in Ohakune without any delay or change to industrial zoning under the existing scheme plan to which AFFCO (NZ) could not object. Those

were the views expressed by the meeting. Concern Con Heinold, who chaired the meeting said from the numbers attending there was obviously a great deal of concern about AFFCO's objection to a change in the scheme plan which would allow a small processing plant to operate in the Waimarino. AFFCO (NZ) is now the only objector to the proposed meatworks in Raetihi.

John Compton, who presented a paper outlining the situation, said Raetihi was ideally placed to provide that plant because it already had an adequate and clean water supply, an adequate effluent disposal and an established saleyards in the town. Guest speaker Peter Wenden of Marton, whose company would operate the plant, said that quality rather than quantity would be the principle behind the

operation, in which about 100 prime cattle would be processed each day. These would be for the high value export market. "At the moment the only ones to benefit from the cattle grown in the Waimarino are the carriers and the big internationally owned processing plants, not the local community," he said. The proposed meatworks would employ about 35 local people and would bring in between $900,000 and $1.4 million each year which would be spent in the Waimarino region. One of the proposals from the floor suggested local breedcrs should stop sending stock to AFFCO. No conscience "They have never shown a social conscience towards or any interest in this area. The big bosses at AFFCO had to look up a map to see where Raetihi was before they could object!" he said. Mr Wenden said the proposed meat processing plant would operate a 2-shift system (4 pcr week) over a 52 weck year. "We want to get right away from what we've had in the meat industry so far and we have lookcd at the whole of New Zealand before de-ciding-that Raetihi was ideally locatcd... it has the available labour force, water, effluent disposal, electricity supply, transport facilities^ (whether on hoof or in cartons), and encouragement from the Ruapehu District Council to establish industries in the Waimarino area." The meatworks would take about six months to construct using local labour. If AFFCO's objections are overruled, the plant could be in operation by the next killing season commencing before Christmas 1992. Unanimous The meeting decided unanimously to support a petition contesting AFFCO's objection and asked all Waimarino residents to support this petition and the Ruapehu District Council in its scheme change. Many of those attending last weeks' meeting identified themselves as AFFCO shareholders but said they were disgusted with their company's attempts to stifle local industry and would be making it quite clear that they were AFFCO shareholders when they signed the petition which is available at McLean's Bookshop in Raetihi, Berry's Bookshop in Ohakune and at the Waiouru Pharmacy.