FROZEN MEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1941, Page 6

FROZEN MEAT

CONTROL OF INDUSTRY POSITION OF MEAT BOARD. SUPPORT FOR HAWKE’S BAY PROPOSAL. (“Times-Age” Special.) A resolution before a meeting of the Wairarapa P. and A. Society at Carterton today from the Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Association, urging support of a proposal to vest complete control of the frozen meat industry in the Meat Board, resulted in much discussion. The question of the telescoping and Timbs’ method of treating the carcases again arose. It was left to the executive committee to frame a resolution in support of the proposals, modified to some degree. ! The following resolution was received from the Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Association: — “That this annual meeting of the Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Association, representing over 2,200 members, urgently impresses on the Government in this serious crisis confronting the Meat Board, which was elected by the farmers of New Zealand for the purpose, the need of complete control of the frozen meat trade of this country, there being in our opinion no other body in New Zealand with the necessary experience to successfully handle, the problems confronting the meat industry today.” It was advised that the resolution had been forwarded to the ActingPrime Minister and tho society was asked to make urgent representations in support of tho resolution. “The matter was thrashed out at the Show Conference in Wellington,” said the president, Mr J. A. McLeod. “It amounted to the two methods of exporting moat. It was correct and quite proper for the board to decide matters concerning the frozen meat trade. If we haven’t faith in the men we elected on the board then we should not have elected them.” He ■ urged full support of the resolution. “We haven’t any representative from the Wairarapa on the Meat Board,” said Mr T. A. Hamilton. Mr L. H. Smart (secretary) observed that the district was represented on the electoral committee. “Whether we have representatives on the board or not it is elected by the farming community,” said Mr McLeod. The resolution conveyed the general opinion of the farmers of New Zealand, He considered that the, problems to be faced should be handled by the meat board and not handed over to the Government. Any idea of the Government taking complete control of the industry would be wrong. “The Meat Board can’t do anything now,” said Mr Hamilton. Mr McLeod poihted out that it came down to the old question of the telescoping v Timbs method of exporting meat to England. Whatever we were asked to do by the people in England should be done. The authorities in England preferred the telescoping system, as did the board. If the Meat Board's powers were taken away . . . “It is being done today,” interjected Mr- C. Moore. Mr Hamilton contended that the Meat Board had no control over the sale of meat. A motion was moved and seconded, which supported the Hawke’s Bay resolution. “The Government has control of the shipping and the Meat Board the meat. The Government can force the board into anything,” observed Mr McLeod. He said that if the board did not agree with the Government, the Government could embarrass the board by holding up shipping facilities. “The Government had no option, owing to the war," said Mr Lamont. Mr Hamilton said that Messrs Nash, Barclay and Cochrane finalised all matters no matter what the meat board put forward. Mr A. E. Hall contended that members would vote on something they knew nothing about. The matter was one for action by the Sheep Owners’ Federation and primary producers. “We are represented on the Meat Board,” said Mr McLeod. “The Meat Board might as well not exist then?” asked Mr Moore. “If it agrees with the Government, then yes, but if it doesn’t well it might as well be non-existent,” said Mr Hamilton. Mr G. W. Hart said that it boiled down to the process under which meat was sent Home. Mr C. L. Reynolds spoke against tho Timb’s mdthod, and supported the Hawke’s Bay resolution. Mr Hamilton said that he was against the Timbs method. He said that under the scheme fat was removed from the sheep, exposing the meat. The meat would be exposed to frosting ancl would burn as black as coal. Labour costs would be high to remove fat valued at Id a lb here, which would fetch 8d per lb in England. Mr McLeod said that at a recent conference Mr. Nash had said that he was is favour of the Timbs method. On a first grade lamb there were 5 to 71bs of waste fat. It was proposed to trim it off and the farmer would be paid for the net result. The farmer stood the loss of the fat trimmed off. An amendment that the executive committee frame a resolution on the lines of the Hawke’s Bay proposals was carried. Mr George Brown said that the words “complete control” of the frozen meat industry wore not possible. In war time the Government had to have the control. He suggested the use of the words “co-operation with the Meat Board” instead.