Otago Farmers Criticise Meat Shipment Delays

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28929, 24 June 1959, Page 20

Otago Farmers Criticise Meat Shipment Delays

“Tile Press’’ Special Service

DUNEDIN. June 23. Shipping arrangements for frozen meat had been absolutely chaotic in the south. Mr J. F. Kirk said at a meeting of Otago Federated Farmers. It was time something was done so freezing works could operate to capacity. Freezing works had been carrying on with stock jammed to the doors, but whenever a ship called at Dunedin it was just to top off a load from a northern port, he said. There should be a closer relationship between the board and shipping companies, Mr Kirk said, in successfully moving that the executive should press for more attention to be paid to shipping. Mr R. W. McCredie said it was time the whole shipping situation was investigated The Conference Lines had a monopoly in New Zealand. It had been responsible for freight charges to North America being boosted, in spite of the assurance by Mr J. D. Ormond, the Meat Board's chairman, that they would not rise. A warning that if more shipping did come, the results would be worse than now, was given by Mr J. E. D. Roberts. “If more lambs are sold in the United Kingdom, the price a pound is going to drop rapidly. It would be wrong to send more Home. It would just aggravate the position." he said. “Farmers to Blame” Mr J. B. Gordon s?jicl everybody was t.o blame and it started with the farmers. “The freezing works are not going to build cool stores

unless we put up some of the money.” Criticising the Meat Board, he said it could exercise its authority more, instead of “pandering to farmers.” “They say one thing to us and then go to the shipping companies and say they must do something to keep the boys happy. The board is just behaving like a liaison officer.” Replying. Mr P. J. Scott, a member of the board, said that when Mr Ormond made his statement it was perfectly true. Freight charges had gone up just after. He said it was true, but the shipping people were having difficulty getting their ships to Dunedin. Cattle Killing Dissatisfaction over the attitude of southern freezing works to cattle killing was expressed by executive members. “The position was quite unsatisfactory,” Mr Kirk said. “The attention of the Meat Board should be drawn immediately to the fact that North Island cattle are accepted for killing at the works with only one week's notice. Southern producers cannot get cattle killed until the end of the season's sheep killing,” Mr Kirk said.

This was the theme of his remit, which was carried. He said farmers had been told the Alliance Freezing Works in Southland would help overcome the difficulties over stock in the south.

That was no use to them. They wanted them dealt with in their own province.