Smaller freezing works planned

Press, 2 November 1981, Page 15

Smaller freezing works planned

PA Invercargill Proposals for a series of small satellite slaughtering and freezing works through northern and eastern Southland were unveiled by the Alliance Freezing Company (Southland). Ltd. The plans break new ground in several respects. They incorporate new technology in a comparatively low-cost establishment, and there may also be local farmer and worker shareholding.

The first, to be called the Holmsdale Freezing Works, at Castle Rock. near Lumsden, could, the company hopes, start working about October next year. Tenders will be called immediately. The expected cost of what would be a one-chain works is estimated at about $4 million. After it is commissioned, the company plans to build a one-chain works plus a byproducts and cold-storage facility near Gore. Additional slaughter-houses are also under consideration at other locations in the region. The company’s chairman. Mr J. B. Falconer, said that implementation of the scheme would proceed only if the initial unit’s operations confirmed detailed feasibility studies.

“Apart from proved cost effectiveness, other factors

which can possibly influence the completion of the scheme include community reactions, local business and farming support, and acceptance by the work-force of the concept and the growth of the meat industry in Southland." Mr Falconer said.

New technology, including pelting machinery, would be part of the satellite works, he said. Management had been developing the new strategy for some months.

He said the new series of slaughter-houses would be more economical to build than the estimated Sl7 million it would have cost five years ago to relocate one of the existing Lorneville chains, plus a support chain at Gore, especially as it was proposed to make provision in the design stages for a standard set of specifications for all four units.

"By placing the new operations in strategic locations throughout the province. it will be possible for each to function at peak over a longer period in each killing season than the customary 100 to 120 days.” he said. Social Credit’s South Island spokesman. Mr Eamon O’Connor, said that the Alliance decision is one of the most heartening moves on the industrial scene in New Zealand in recent years. Social credit has long ad-

vocated worker share-hold-ing in co-operative ventures as a solution to the country's industrial problems. The building of smaller freezing works is in line with Social Credit’s plans for regional development and the decentralisation of industry. Mr O’Connor said that he hoped that the example set by Alliance would be followed throughout the South Island and eventually in the rest of New Zealand.