FREEZING WORKS SEASON

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22436, 24 June 1938, Page 12

FREEZING WORKS SEASON

KILLING TO CEASE NEXT WEEK POORER CONDITION OF STOCK AH freezing works in North Canterbury will close down by next Thursday and killing will not be resumed till December. The closing of tire Belfast works of Messrs Thomas Borthwick and Sons (A’asia.), Ltd., has been fixed definitely for June 30, and the cessation of work by the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company at Belfast will depend on the weather conditions during the coming week. The Kaiapoi works of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Cooperative Freezing Company will probably finish operations on Wednesday, and there is every probability that the New Zealand Refrigerating Company will close its Islington works on Thursday. The season has been one of the worst in recent years for the general condition of the stock. The fattening season was poor, and the weights of the killed carcases have been considerably lower. A big increase in sheep killings at the Canterbury works is reported, while the number of lambs killed showed a slight increase. Approximately 6000 fewer pigs have been killed at the works, and recently a strong local demand has been made for baconers

“Between 1400 and 1500 men will be thrown out of employment through the closing of the freezing works in North Canterbury,” said Mr _H. G. Kilpatrick, secretary of the union. Most of the men would go on relief work.