FREEZING WORKS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21245, 17 August 1934, Page 14

FREEZING WORKS

—*— EMPLOYMENT OF GIRLS ALLEGED INVESTIGATION PROMISED BY MINISTER (PR«SS iSSOtU'tIOU TELZQBAU.) WELLINGTON, August 16. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr R. Sempie (Lab., Wellington East) protested against the employment of young girls in freezing works, and asked the Minister to investigate the matter and have the practice stopped. He also protested against the quality of stock sent to Wellington for human consumption. Many of the animals, he said, were fit only for the zoo. Mr W. J. Poison (C. Stratford) said that to the best of his knowledge no women or girls were employed in freezing works. Such a practice was highly undesirable. If it was found to be a fact, the Minister should see what could be done about it. Mr P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central) asked if representations had been made to the Minister regarding the sale of meat by auctioneers. He said that it was not fair to retail butchers. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe said he had been chairman of directors of a freezing works for six years, and knew of no girls employed in such works, except in the office as typists or clerks. Mr A. S. Richards (Lab., Roskill) said he had been told by two reliable persons that girls had been employed at a freezing works at Otahuhu at wages ranging from 25s to 32s 6d a week. He did not know if the girls were still employed there; but he Urged the Minister to have investigations made. Mr H. G. Dickie (C, Patea) said he knew of no women being employed in the slaughtering department. They were employed in the bagmaking department. He did not think any reputable firm would employ women in the slaughtering department. The Hon. A. D. McLeod said he was informed that no women were employed in freezing works in Wellington or Hawke's Bay, but it had been suggested to him that women were employed in works in the Auckland province in certain departments where he considered no women should be employed. The Hon. C. E. Macmillan, replying, said the Government had received representations from master butchers, but it was not intended to deal with the retail trade in the Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Bill. He was advised that no women were working in freezing works, except at bagmaking or posting labels. He was prepared to have investigations made; but he doubted if that bill was the proper place to deal with labour conditions. He gave an emphatic denial to the statement that poor quality meat was corning to the Wellington market, and , said the inspection was very rigid. Objection could not be taken to meat because it was old.