Foreign meat firms blamed

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33093, 7 December 1972, Page 3

Foreign meat firms blamed

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 6. Foreign ownership and control of freezing works should be investigated, it was submitted to the Committee of Inquiry into the Distribution of Meat, Fish, Fruit and Vegetables in Wellington today.

The submission was made by the Auckland branch of the Campaign Against Rising Prices.

An investigation could ascertain the degree to which foreign ownership and control set the schedule prices paid to farmers in New Zealand, and influenced local meat prices, Mrs E. Ayo said on behalf of the branch.

Nearly half the freezing industry in New Zealand was owned by three large exporting companies, said Mrs Ayo, The companies bought more than 80 per cent of the meat produced for export. Overseas prices Downward variations in overseas meat prices at certain times of the year were not reflected to the local consumer because the large overseas companies were able to buy and hold meat for sale later. High prices of beef were a reflection of the overseas market, particularly in America. It was submitted that the restraining of price increases could best be established and maintained with New Zealand ownership of this sector of the economy. Alternative means of ownership such as co-opera-tives should be encouraged with producer and Government control, and consumer participation. If necessary, the industry should be nationalised, said Mrs Ayo. Local butcheries The loss of the personal touch in the swing from the neighbourhood butcher to impersonal self service stores was deplored, particularly by older customers, said the president of the National Council of Women (Mrs R. K Dell). In the last 10 years, the service to the customer had

varied with the increasing avenues of supply—supermarkets, dairies, groceries, wholesalers, as well as retailers in the butchery trade. However, there were still butchers who did their best to maintain standards of skill, knowledge and personal service to their customers, not the least being a delivery service, said Mrs Dell.

“Mr Lee welcome.”—The Prime Minister of Singapore (Mr Lee Kuan Yew), would be most welcome if he wished to visit New Zealand, said the Prime Minister-elect (Mr Kirk) yesterday. He was commenting on speculation that Mr Lee might visit New Zealand next year.—(P.A.)