Meat Board Inquiry Into Freezing Charges Refused

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28314, 27 June 1957, Page 14

Meat Board Inquiry Into Freezing Charges Refused

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 26. “I can understand the desire of Federated Farmers to have an investigation of the killing and processing charges of freezing companies, but I cannot agree to their suggestion that the investigation should be made by the Meat Board.”

This comment was made today by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) on a resolution passed recently by the Meat and Wool Section of Federated Farmers which sought an investigation by the Meat Board of freezing companies’ accounts. Mr Holyoake added that it would be wrong for one section of the meat industry to conduct an inquiry affecting the activities of another section. Such investigations were rightly a function of the Minister of Agriculture and powers existed in the Meat Act, 1939, for him to call for financial data as he saw fit.

Whether or not certain information arising from the investigations could be released to other interested parties was not a matter of opinion. The Meat Act specifically provided that any information so obtained was confidential. This provision was wise.

Mr Holyoake said that some time ago he decided to carry out a further investigation (under the provisions of the Meat Act) into freezing company accounts, and negotiations have taken place between the Government and the North and South Island freezing companies’ association. There have been unavoidable delays latterly because of his absence from New Zealand.

“I expect to meet the executives of the associations at an early date, when I feel that the details of the investigation and treatment of information gained will be satisfactorily resolved,’* he said.