N.Z. meat exports 'strangled'

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 7

N.Z. meat exports 'strangled'

FA Wellington Strikes and continual industrial unrest are strangling the export meat industry. says the chairman of the •deal Board (Mr Charles Htlgendorf). “It is inconceivable that public opinion continue to olerate the present state of chaos and tyranny in the ireezing industry," he said in a statement. Strikes have already prevented new season’s lambs from reaching the British market when they should, and the latest decision of the waterside workers to go on a 48-hour strike onlv further compounds an already serious situation. This not onlv prevents these lambs from earning high prices, but quickly disrupts our entire marketing and shipping plans for the year, costing the country many millions of dollars.” said Mr Hilgendorf. ".Just as seriously, it discourages farmers from stocking their land to its fullest capacity. High stocking rates make sense only if animals can be killed promptly when they are ready. The producers penalised most bv strikes

are those who are trying hardest to expand output in their own and the country's interest.” Mr Hilgendorf said it was clear that a number of unionists were determined to undermine and finally abolish the whole present democratic system. “It is unlikely that their numbers are large.” he said, “but mane' rank-and-fiie I unionists are either too apathetic or too timid to iwithstand their influence. “Only when enough people realise that the cumulative .effect of strikes, threats of ; strikes, overmanning and the refusal to allow the adoption of new techniques and irni proved methods is the strangulation of the export ■meat industry will there be ian improvement. i “And only when enough: • people realise that strangula-: ition of the industry means a certain drop in their own liv-| ing standards will public J ■opinion react sharply enough} against the present intoler-: able situation.” said Mr Hi!-: gendorf. New Zealand has missed) the important Christmas) lamb market in Britain. 1