New technology urged

Press, 13 May 1981, Page 7

New technology urged

PA Auckland The president of Federated Farmers. Mr A. F. Wright, has urged the rapid introduction of “vital" new technology in the freezing industry.

The new methods could, he said. create production growth in farming and help hold rapidly rising processing costs.

If the new technology was not introduced, farmer costs would continue to soar and the sheep industry would face a period of stagnation, Mr Wright said.

"It is not a matter of if we introduce cost-saving measures into our freezing industry, but when,” he told the annual conference of Federated Farmers’ Auckland province. Mr Wright said that the time was right for farmers and freezing workers to “get around the table to sort out the introduction of new automation.”

“Let us talk it out quickly and use the technology available. We cannot afford to wait.”

While he agreed that freezing workers' jobs might be at stake, Mr Wright said that there was an annual turnover of employees in the

works of about 10 per cent. “The numbers in the union may be reduced, but it is likely that very few individual employees will be made redundant. ’ particularly if they are prepared to accept alternative job opportunities within the works,” said Mr Wright.