MEAT EXPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 230, 28 September 1934, Page 15

MEAT EXPORT.

FREEZING WORKS.

CONTROL BILL MODIFIED.

LESS POWER FOR MINISTER.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

Important modifications of the complete powers which the Slaughtering and Inspection Bill had proposed should be vested in the Minister of Agriculture have been incorporated in the amended measure submitted to the House of Representatives by the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee.

The bill provides that the Minister may fix conditions in a meat export slaughtering license, limiting the number of stock which may be killed in any period, or the class of stock which may bo killed. This power is retained, but< it is to be exercised on the recommendation of the Meat Producers' Board. A clause giving the Minister power to obtain from the board recommendations which he had a right to reject has, in view of the previous change, been deleted.

The bill gave power to the Minister to undertake to give his consent to the granting of an export killing license for freezing works proposed to be built, and to issue such license when applied for. unless in the meantime economic conditions had so altered that the granting of the new license would not be in the public interest. The committee has amended the clause so that onco a Minister's undertaking .is given it must he carried out if the license is applied for within twelve months of the undertaking being given.

Returns From Works Managers,

The power to make regulations requiring freezing works managers to supply particulars regarding the names of owners and classes of meat slaughtered has been extended to include returns regarding the disposal of meat.

A new clause provides that the buying of stock to be slaughtered for export shall be deemed to be part of the business carried on under a meat export slaughtering license, and the buying of such stock in a manner contrary to public interest is to be regarded as a ground for the revocation of the license, of its transfer or renewal.

In presenting the report, the chairMr. 11. S. H. Kyle, stated that a considerable amount of evidence had been heard, especially from freezing companies and from producer's. The bill as amended would take away somewhat from the full powers originally proposed to be given the Minister, several clauses having been amended, fco that the Minister would act on the recommendation of the Meat Producers' Board. The clause providing that the licensee of a meat export slaughterhouse must accept for slaughter all stock offered from producers and intended for export had been amended in a way which would meet the companies.