KILLING OF STOCK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 116, 18 May 1944, Page 6

KILLING OF STOCK

DELAYS AT WORKS p.A. DUNEDIN, May 17. During the past few weeks some dissatisfaction has been expressed by the producers of freezing stock because of the delay resulting from inability of freezing works to cope with the seasonal rush. This rush usually occurs each year, but owing to the call from Britain, for increased supplies o'i food, and the adverse weather and feed conditions, the producers have additional reasons this year for a feeling of frustration.. Inquiries regarding the position at the Finegand works at Balclutha disclosed that a shortage of labour, particularly butchers, has been a factor causing delays, and that these delays have recently been accentuated by the adoption of as system of individual killings, which up to April 1 were 100 lambs or 80 sheep per man each day. Since then it has been decided to lower the figures to' 92 lambs or 76 sheep, and the works are now operating on this limit. This represents a loss of killings at Finegand of approximately 1500' to 2000 each week, which is a serious matter for the Mother Country as well as for the growers. It is understood that a similar limit has also been put into operation at the Southland works. An official of the Freezing Workers' Union stated today that this was a particularly difficult part of the season for killing owing to the growth of wool on the sheep and other conditions. He thought that in individual killing the figure of 92 lambs or 76 sheep a man each day was well up to standard for the time of the year, and pointed out that as the men were on piece work, it was to their interest to keep the killing figures up as much as possible. He hoped that the message did not imply an allegation that anything in the nature of a "go slow" policy was being adopted.