SALE OF MEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 59, 7 September 1938, Page 7

SALE OF MEAT

DIRECT COMPETITION

BUTCHERS AND FREEZING COMPANIES

Evidence vwill be taken shortly regarding the competition which exists between the freezing companies and the master butchers. After, a second reading pro forma in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, the Slaughter of Stock and Inspection of Meat Bill was referred to the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee, the Minister of Agriculture. (the Hon. W. L. Martin) saying that, the Committee was anxious to hear eviderice concern-; ing the conflict that has existed between the freezing companies and the butchers. The Minister said that some of the freezing companies had gone far beyond the provisions of their licence and had entered into direct competition with the butchers. This competition been particularly intense during the depression. / At the present time the companies were able to'sell meat through shops situated on their premises. These shops did not have to comply with the same conditions as those under which the master butchers operated, and this fact appeared to give the companies an advantage. It was intended that in future the freezing companies, if they desired to compete with the butchers, would be required to build shops morei in compliance with the regulations, to which the butchers had to conform. • TO BE PASSED IF THERE IS TIME. In reply, to the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton), the Minister said he was hoping the Bill would be passed this session. It would be put through if time were available. Mr. S. G. Smith (National, NeW Plymouth) said the Bill had been brought forward at a very late hour. Did the Minister assume that witnesses could j be brought to Wellington to give evidence in the limited time that remained before the close of the session? Replying to a question, the Minister, said that he had not meant to infer that the freezing companies had infringed the terms of their export licence, but he did think they had exceeded their powers in entering into competition with the butchers. Upset by the loss of sevenpence,' her pocket money, a girl of 13 searched for it and found a diamond, says the "Manchester Guardian." The money had been given to the girl, Dorothy Sparkes, to spend at a garden fete at Kingstanding, Birmingham, and the diamond had been lost with the gold star in which it, was set from the chain of office of the Lord Mayor, Councillor E. R. Canning. Official search parties had failed when Dorothy saw the star glittering in the grass. She never found her money. Thinking the star was part of a brooch, she took.it home. Her mother had heard the appeal broadcast through the district for the missing jewel, and communicated with the polid'e. The Lord Mayor rewarded the finder.