IN DIFFICULTIES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 83, 5 October 1922, Page 4

IN DIFFICULTIES

BACON PACKING COMPANY

REFERENCE IN PARLIAMENT.

The difficulties of the New Zealand Meat Packing and Bacon Company were mentioned in the House of Representatives by Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston, North) yesterday, when asking the Government for assistance to enable the bacon packing industry to be carried on this season. Mr. Nash stated that recently a deputation of farmers waited on the Prime Minister in regard to the bacon industry, and that that "morning those interested had consulted a number of members as a consequence of the temporary stoppage of the Bacon Packing Company, which had caused great difficulty to farmers who had their pigs ready for sale. The packing company, he stated, was in a very unfortunate position. The present directors had guaranteed £60,000 for last year,to enable it to carry on, and {hey wished to secure an amendment of the Finance Act to give power to the Government to make advances to the producers, by way of guarantee to the bank, tho amount required being £75,000, of which the farmers would be 'able to guarantee £40,000. The Government was not being'asked to take over the Packing Company's business or interfere with it. What was wanted was a guarantee for twelve months. He asked if the Prime Minister would receive a deputation on the subject.

The Prime Minister replied that he was quite willing to receive a deputation, "but," he continued, "it seems to me from what has taken place that the whole position has been given away. My duty is to look at it from the point of view of the country, and to get the business running if it is possible. I knqw how serious it will be for farmers if the business comes to a stop, as there is no time to organise anything satisfactory for the coming season." The Prime Minister added that there was a good market in England. The chairman of the Meat Control Board'had assured him they were certain of disposing of pork, always assuming it was of good quality and satisfactory price. It was a serious proposal to make that the Government should provide a guarantee of £75,000, and it should have been made to him in. the first instanco so that the Government could have had an opportunity of considering it. This proposal had not been made to him previously. /'I want to do what is right, but my first duty is to protect the interests of the country, nnd I will do that to the best of my ability," concluded the Prime Minister.