MEAT FREEZING INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1919, Page 3

MEAT FREEZING INDUSTRY.

THE NEED FOR TRANSPORT FACILITIES. HOUSING THE WORKERS. At the Parliamentary Industries Committee at New Plymouth on Monday, Mr. J. T. Quin, chairman of the Taranaki Farmers' Meat Co., stressed the need of the freezing industry in the direction of road and bridge building, and in railway construction. The completion of the Stratford-Main Trunk line was one of the great needs of the industry in this district. Without these facilities for transit the industry could not be fully developed. He dealt with the housing question as it affected the employees in the works. It was very difficult to get skilled workers in a plaije where the housing accommodation was so scarce. He thought the Government should buy land and enable and help to build homes, and so enable men to live in comfort within easy reach of their work, and also within reach of a school for their children. He then referred to the treatment meted out to his company by the Government in connection with the siding accommodation at Smart road, alleging that they had been penalised to the extent of £4OOO for the straightening of a piece of line already down, and which served the general public as much as it served the works. The siding had not been put d. especially for the works. The company paid about £SO per annum for the right of using it. -They had spent about £147,000 on their works, and would be spending more, and the only encouragement they got from the Government was to be penalised as he had stated.

In reply to a question, he said it was not possible for the company to build bouses for its workers. They would require about 30 houses for their permanent staff.

Mr. Sidey suggested that the housing problem could be best tackled by the municipalities, to which Mr. Quin replied that he supposed in any case the Government would have to find the money.

The chairman stated that so far as the matter of the siding was concerned they might try and get redress by petitioning Parliament, who would then have to refer the matter to a committee to report upon. Mr. J. Milne, manager of the company, also gave evidence in support of Mr Quinn, stating that within 30 miles of Ivew Plymouth there were roads that were practically impassable for a great Part of the year. And some of the best d ° f 3 e district la y alon g those roads. The opening up and roading of the country was one of t)]e essentia , things for the industry. He thought a line between Waitara and Te Kniti of vital importance. If the main facilities were given the company would be able to get along well. M Hornsby referred to the cottages erected by the Government in the Waimrapa and Mr. Milne said he bcliev the settlement there was one of the best ni the Dominion, and the workers were amongst the most satisfied. They had five or six-roomod houses and about four TT 0i ln Nw Pl.vmouth tbev had great difficulty in retaining skilled workers, because they could get no necommodation. The bulk of the feho troubles, he believed, were clue to want ot proper housing accommodation. Ihe chairman suited a scheme of joint M,bß,dy by the Government an the company to workers building their to consider the suggestion and report to the committee later. *