MEAT CONTROL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 132, 15 March 1940, Page 6

MEAT CONTROL

NO REPORT PRESENTED.

SPLIT ON SUB-COMMITTEE.

FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION. The Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers’. t Union met this afternoon, the vice-president (Mr T. V. Wilkinson) presiding. The president said that the subcommittee set up to go into the question of the meat commandeer had been badly split ancl in the circumstances no report was possible.

Mr W. R. Hammond : What are you going to do about it?

The chairman: I didn’t think a majority report should have been given. A member: A majority report could have been given. Mr G. V. Gerard said a report of some sort should be given or another committee appointed.

Mr Hammond said that Mr C. C. Winn, one -of the committee, had drawn up a report, and it should be presented. Mr Winn, unfortunately, was not able to be. present that day. It was suggested that the report could be taken at the next meeting.

Mr C. Hitgendorf, a member of the committee, said his opinion was that the meat should not bo paid for as it left the farm. The farmers would not gain anything by -handing over the meat to the Government before they had to. If they were not satisfied with prices through the ordinary channel they should have their meat frozen on their own account.

Co-Ordinating Interests. Mr N. Adams, of Waitemata, president of the Sheepowners’ Federation, addressed the meeting, and said that they were indications that th§ro was going to be a much stronger union of farmers’ organisations in future, with a sinking of the feeling that once existed between the farmers and the sheepowners.. As a result of meetings, it was probable that there would be a big reorganisation of the fanning community to put the existing organisations on a stronger and more cooperative basis. Another scheme was that each body should be re-organised and the whole system co-ordinated. Further discussions on the question would be undertaken next week. What the outcome .would be, he could not say. The farmers did not get together, much of the work of the good men being abortive because of the lack of sympathy of others. He referred to the very effective ally the Union had in the Women’s Division of the Union. He went on to speak of th« difficulties in negotiation over the basic wage claims for agricultural workers and others on the land. The aim, he said, was to bring up the. lower rates of pay so that others above could he stepped up, “till they reached the moon.” Mr Adams was thanked for his address, the president endorsing the speaker's tribute to the Women’s Division.

It Avas agreed to send to Mr G. H. B. Lill, Avho has been indisposed for some time, a letter expressing hopes for his. early recovery. The Rakaia branch Avrote asking the Executive to go into the question of allowances for'depreciation on plant and machinery in relation to taxes, and on the. recommendation of the Standing Committee a committee Avas set up to go into details and'draw up a report for urgent presentation to the {Dominion Executive to bo taken up with the Commissioner of Taxes. The Ashburton County Council forAvarded a copy of the transport charges report which it considered at its last meeting. '

It Avas agreed to hand tho, report to the Primary Producers’ Councils.