Works ready to fill slaughtering needs

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32967, 13 July 1972, Page 14

Works ready to fill slaughtering needs

Local freezing works companies could provide Christchurch with cattle and pig meats —if the need should arise through the Department of Agriculture revoking the licence ot the city abattoir—at no increase in meat prices to the consumer.

This view was given yesterday in a joint statement from Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia), Ltd, the N.Z. Refrigerating Company, Ltd, and the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, Ltd. “We are confident that this service could be handled by our companies without any need to increase the cost of meat to the consumer. In fact, it would certainly be

possible to hold costs.” the I companies said. They emphasised that if such a service became necessary it would have to be a joint undertaking to cope with the demand.

Companies represented “Although our companies are represented on the Abattoir Consultative Committee for the purpose of providing expert advice on methods of upgrading the city abattoir

to meet the standards required by the Department of Agriculture, we hate not been approached by the council either collectively or individually to supply cattle or pig meats.

“Our understanding is that facilities for handling sheep and lambs at the abattoir ' meet the department's standard and so only the processing of cattle and pigs is involved,” the companies said. [The director of the Meat Division of the Agriculture [ Department (Mr J. D. Mc[Nab) writing to the City [Council this week, said that [he would revoke the abattoir licence if faults were not rectified by July 1. He listed seven faults in the cattle [slaughtering hall and three in the pig slaughtering compound. He did not list any faults in the mutton slaughtering chamber.] [ “Representatives of our companies attended a meetjing of the Abattoir Consultative Committee, convened by the City Council on March 3 to discuss progress made in the modernisation programme for the abattoir and, in particular. the financial aspects of further development work. Further meeting “It was our understanding that a further meeting would be held a month later. This meeting was not held, and so we have had no communication with the council since the March meeting. “If there have been further developments in the inter vening period we have not been told of them. [ "The issue is one between the City Council and the Department of Agriculture and . in no way involves the freezI ing companies. “However, if the depart- . ment does prohibit cattie and , pig killings at the abattoir, , our companies are willing to [ co-operate with the council to supply these meats if ' called upon,” the statement ' concluded.