FREEZING WORKS LICENCE

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26857, 9 October 1952, Page 8

FREEZING WORKS LICENCE

SOUTHLAND DISPUTE ON ALLOCATION FARMERS REJECT PLAN FOR CONFERENCE (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, October 8. Rejecting a suggestion that there should be a conference of interested parties to attempt a settlement of the question of a new freezing works licence for Southland, the Southland meat and wool section of Federated Farmers today accused the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board of "stalling” and “not playing the game.” The conference had been proposed by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake), who suggested that representatives of the Government, the Meat Board, the Southland Sheepfarmers’ Company, and the Southland Farmers’ Freezing Company should meet.

“We feel that the Meat Board is stalling over the whole matter and is not playing the game, and would urge the Minister to make the board face up to the need to meet squarely the application of the Alliance Freezing Company and the present situation, which is absolutely clear,” said a resolution carried by today’s meeting. The meeting also decided that the Minister’s attention should be drawn to “a Cabinet decision, notified on September 11, that no further time could be allowed the Southland Farmers' Freezing Company to test the practicability of its scheme.” The president of the Southland provincial executive of Federated Farmers (Mr A. V. Hartley) said the Alliance Company had now the only application for the licence. Its application was in order; the money was ready; a site for its works had been secured; and the plans had been submitted.