MEAT FREEZING TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 24883, 24 October 1942, Page 4

MEAT FREEZING TRADE

PRODUCER OWNERSHIP DESIRED A motion stating that the Southland delegates to the Electoral Committee of the Meat Board had the full confidence and support of all Southland farmers in the question of the proposed transfer of the licence of the Ocean Beach freezing works was passed at the meeting of the Southland Eexcutive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. The motion was introduced on the recommendation of the meat and wool committee. Mr J. R. Nuttall said the Co-opera-tive Wholesale Society of Great Britain ■was already a large buyer of New Zealand primary produce and its purchase of the Ocean Beach freezing works would not be detrimental to the interests of the producers. “It should be remembered that that company always buys in the cheapest market,” said Mr A. Napper. A voice: Does Mr Napper suggest there is any company which does not do so? Mr H. Smith said farmers desired that ownership of freezing works should be held by New Zealand interests as far as possible. The farmers should insist on pro-ducer-ownership rather than New Zealand ownership, said Mr B. Clearwater. There had been experiences of capitalistic New Zealand concerns obtaining control of farmers’ co-operative organizations. If a new company were established it should be on the lines of New Zealand co-operative dairy factory companies with a limit to the dividends payable to shareholders. Mr D. H. O’Brien said steps should be taken to prevent the sale of shares to overseas interests or else control ■would pass to trusts.

The aim of farmers was to maintain open channels for the meat trade overseas, said the president (Mr G. Stevenson). There were large trusts in the trade, and the amount of meat freezing business controlled in New Zealand was very small. Farmers were concerned to see that that element of competition was retained.