Mindless stoppage, says P.M.

Press, 19 February 1983, Page 6

Mindless stoppage, says P.M.

PA Wellington The Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, yesterday attacked “mindless stoppages" at the Oringi meat works and warned that it could mean the plant would join its Patea counterpart on the “scrap heap”. Mr Muldoon said that he did not know how long the works’ proprieters could hold out against the effects of the stoppages. “Unresolved, this modern works could close down and join the dismantled Gear and 1 run-down Patea works on the scrap heap." he said at the opening of the Pongaroa rural water supply scheme. "The owners would lose their investment, the workers their jobs, the shops the spending power, the farmers a modern freezing works.

"Union officials can rant and rave about the employers in the freezing works industry, but in my mind the properietors represent those in our midst in whose breasts hope springs eternal."

Mr Muldoon asked: “How else would we have had $25 million invested in the new works at Oringi and Takapau, and several million dollars in updating, for the export trade, abattoirs in Christchurch and Whangarei which I am shortly to officially open?"

He said that it did not occur "to the stirrers, the agitators, the fomentors, that the whole structure of our economy rests almost entirely on primary exports, which account for about twothirds of our overseas earnings.

"As far as the meat industry is concerned, it seems to

me that certain elements will not rest until they break down the whole edifice — there are certainly gaps in the walls now, and no sooner is one gap patched up, than another is punched." The Prime Minister said that the meat industry was the biggest single earner of overseas funds, which paid for the raw materials needed in secondary industries. Most trade unionists were employed in secondary industry and servicing, he said.

“Further we need some of the proceeds of export earnings to meet the debt charges on money borrowed overseas to finance large energy projects, which will broaden the base of our economy and give employment to the sons and daughters of those trade unionists who today will stop work

almost at the drop of a hat." The Oringi freezing works strike has put 46 Shannon people out of work Until further notice. The works is the sole supplier of pelts to Dawn Meats fellmongery operation. The general manager of the fellmongery, Mr Tony Boucher, said that if the company did not receive supplies of pelts there was no work left for the staff.

Pelts were normally sent down from Oringi to the small Horowhenua township at regular intervals, but stocks from the last consignment ran out early this week. Fellmongery operations ceased from noon on Wednesday and staff were laid off until further notice. Mr Boucher said that work would resume immediately fresh stocks of pelts arrived at the plant.