SUBSIDY ON MEAT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 262, 4 November 1944, Page 6

SUBSIDY ON MEAT

PAYMENT MOOTED

SUM OF £500,000 MENTIONED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. The intention of the Government to pay a subsidy on meat was mentioned by the secretary of the Municipal Association, Mr. A. E. Hurley, at the annual conference of the association, which concluded yesterday.

The attitude of the master butchers was that the rationing system could not be operated effectively on the present method, and that it should be tackled at the killing end by weighing at the abattoirs, said Mr. Hurley. The majority of the municipal abattoirs were prepared to make machines available, but felt that the cost involved should be met by .the War Expenses. Account.

'The .Rationing Controller had advised him that the Government did not wish to "find the cost of installing machines where they were not already in existence. It had been indicated that the subsidy would total £500,000, said Mr. Hurley. It would be paid to the butchers, with consequent benefit to the public. The Government proposed introducing regulations shortly to make the weighing of meat' at the killing point compulsory, but to grant exemptions to certain abattoirs where weighing facilities were not available. The ■ counter-proposals of the association wtieve- abattoirs, did not "have 'facilities and would not install them except for the necessity of the rationing scheme the capital cost should be borne by the Government out of the War Expenses Account. In addition, the association desired that running costs should be met either from the War Expenses Account or by the abattoir authorities being empowered to pass on the cost.

Mr. L. A; Johnston, town clerk of Dunedin, intimated that his council might be unable to assist in the matter.. It did.not have weighing facilities, and th£ abattoir was running at a loss. The onus should be on the butcher. However, they would be quite content if empowered to pass on the charge.