FARMERS AND FREEZING COMPANIES

Wairarapa Age, 8 February 1927, Page 5

FARMERS AND FREEZING COMPANIES

STATEMENT BY

MR. J. MILNE.

IDENTICAL INTERESTS. KO THOUGHT OF PEACE AT AN! PRICE. WELLINGTON, February 7. A statement that the meat freezing companies are more concerned, to have industrial peace, irrespective of increased wages, than to protect farmers against increased charges, was flatly contradicted today by Mr. JT. Milne on behalf of the meat freezing companies. The interest of the companies and the farmers in the Question of the costs of freezing, Mr. Milne stated, was . a common one, and the freezing companies were just as anxious as the farmers to keep down charges. If such were not the case, Mr. Milne continued, why did the companies last year firmly and successfully resist the claims made in Canterbury, and why were they again resisting the claims made this year? Of course the freez-

ing companies desired industrial peace, hs most sensible people did,»but not peace at any price. For the past six Tears, the meat freezing industry had enjoyed a fair measure of industrial peace. There had been disputes, but these had been adjusted, and in such a manner that there had been no increase in charges whatever to the fanner. On the contrary, generally speaking, charges had been reduced. Mr. Milne

added that the freezing companies wanted to co-operate whole-heartedly <with farmers in resisting any unfair demands made, and intended to do so to the best of their ability. It was so obvious that their interests were identical, that he wqs astonished to find any doubts raised on the subject. At any rate he was pleased to be able to give a flat contradiction to the erroneous ideas on the subject which were being circulated in some quarters. — (PA) -