FREEZING INDUSTRY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 210, 17 June 1933, Page 7

FREEZING INDUSTRY

LITTLE KILLING FOR EXPORT.

THE CANTERBURY WORKS.

(Special to the " Guardian.") CHRISTCHURCH, June 15'

Very little killing for export is now being done by the freezing works in Canterbury. The Timaru and Ashburton works have ceased operations for the season, the Kaiapoi works close down to-day, and the work at other sheds is tapering off fairly rapidly. So far as figures are concerned, the Killings of sheep and lambs for the Dominion up to the end of May are down by 338,0U0 head, as compared with the corresponding period of the previous season. In tiie North Island there have been decreases in the killings of wethers, ewes and Jambs, the figures being 389,817, 341,672, and 36,2f4 head respectively., In the South Island, on the other hand, the killings of wethers have increased by 38,170 and of lambs by 044,202 head. There is a decrease, of 105,011, however, in the number of ewes handled at the various works.

Commenting on the figures this morning, the secretary of the Freezing Works and Related Trades Unioin, Mr H. C. Hevell, said that the killings were well up to the average. Last season was an exceptional one, and the ch-y conditions which prevailed had caused a big increase in killings. The quantities of mutton in store showed an increase of about 23,828 head, decreases of the stocks in hand in the North Island being offset by the increases in the South Island.