EKETAHUNA PROTEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 December 1943, Page 2

EKETAHUNA PROTEST

AGAINST CLOSING OF DAIRY FACTORY ACTION CONDEMNED IN STRONG TERMS BREACH OF FAITH ALLEGED DEMAND FOR RENEWAL OF LICENCE Resentment”at the closing’ on December 1 of the Eketahuna Dairy Factory was expressed at a largely-attended public protest meeting’ held in Eketahuna last night. The Mayor, Mr AV. Olsen, presided. Apologies for absence were received from the Prime Minister, the Minister of Agriculture, Air B. Roberts, and Mr G. 11. Mackley, M.P.

Speakers at the meeting expressed keen concern at the effect the closing of the factory would have on Eketahuna. It was contended that this action would lead to little saving of petrol and tires. The attitude of the Dairy Board and that of the Dairy Division were criticised. The following resolutions were carried: —

“This meeting of citizens of Eketahuna and surrounding district express their strong resentment of the action of the authorities in forcing the Eketahuna Dairy Company, Ltd., to close down owing to damage sustained by the factory by the two major earthquakes of 1942. Although definite promises were made on more than one occasion to the Mayor and others by the Prime Minister that Eketahuna would not suffer or be penalised through the catastrophe, this promise has been broken by allowing the factory to be closed and although strong representations have been made by deputations from local bodies, suppliers, etc., the determination of the Dairy Division to take undue advantage of the earthquakes has been upheld by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

“This representative gathering considers that a full explanation of the breach of faith is due to the district by the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet and demands that the factory be immediately granted a renewal of its licence and authority approved for reconditioning the earthquake damaged building. ■“Nothing short of fulfilment of Ministerial promises will satisfy the Eketahuna district, and thereby prove that political influences have not overridden British liberty and justice.” “STABBED IN THE BACK” Mr Olsen strongly criticised the Dairy Division and Cabinet for “unscrupulous" efforts to have the factory closed. He gave the history of early negotiations to zone suppliers in the Wairarapa and alleged that the Dairy Division had stabbed the company in the back by using the earthquake damage as a pretext to close the factory. Four married men had lost their jobs and the closing of the factory would mean a fall in property values in Eketahuna. As the population was mainly of working peonle they would lose their equity. The Prime Minister had said on at least two occasions that the town would not be penalised on account of the earthquake and that the factory would not be closed. But for the earthquake damage the factory could not have been closed. “I leave judgment to the Press and the public. We have been shockingly treated." concluded Mr Olsen. Mr O. Walton, secretary of the Eketahuna Dairy Company, said the Daily Division had waved the big stick and had applied the screws. Since the factory had been closed, tires and petrol had not been saved because two, lorries were now' covering the area where in the past one lorry was used. Mr J. B. Carruthers, chairman of the Eketahuna County Council, said the closing of the factory was a retrogiade step so far as the rehabilitation of service men was concerned. The Prime Minister had led them up the gaiden path and left them there. In a telegram Mr Mackley. stated that the decision to close the factory was one that was not free from political considerations of a kind that would not fool anyone. Air A H. Herbert accused the Government of filching the people's free-

dom. „ Mr J. H. Handyside said the closing of the factory was an effort to covet up a departmental blunder of many years ago. when Mauriceville was made a cream collection centre.

dairy board blamed Mr J- Robertson detailed the struggle which he. as the then M.P. for the district. and Mr Walton had put up for the retaining of the factory. He said it was a mistake to close the factory, 'r'ne Dairv Board and not the Government was to blame. The board was elected bv the dairy industry, and the Brme' Minister and the Minister of •Vn-iculture could hardly go against the •idv ; ce of the elected representatives of the industry, which in this case was to close the factory. Mr Robertson alleged that the Wairarapa member of the Dairv Board had misrepresented the opinion of the people of Eketahuna regarding the closing of the factory. The Dairy Board had been trying for veils to close the factory and its policy was'to have only three factories in the Wairarapa. Mr Robertson said that, prior to'the election he had made the retaining of the factory part of his platform. On September 25 he had been voted out and lie took it that that meant that the people wanted the factory closed. He had been a “snag to those who wanted it closed, but now the snag had been removed. When the protest resolution was read out to the meeting Mr Robertson gave the only negative vote.