SUBSIDY ON MEAT

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 November 1944, Page 6

SUBSIDY ON MEAT

HALF-MILLION TO BUTCHERS

WELLINGTON, November 3. The intention, of the Government to pay a subsidy on meat was mentioned by the Secretary of the Municipal Association, Mr A. E. Hurley, during a discussion on the rationing of meat at the annual conference of the Association, which concluded today. The attitude of the master butchers was that the rationing system could not.be operated effectively on the present method, and that, it should be tackled at the killing end by weighing at abattoirs, said . Mr Hurley. Mr Hurley stated that he had been in contact with the Rationing Controller, Mr Thomas, and that he subsequently had circularised all of the abattoir authorities, inquiring it weighing facilities were available The replies indicated that the majority of the municipal abattoirs were prepared to make them available, but thev felt that the cost involved should be borne by the War Expenses Account. Mr Thomas had advised him that the Government did not wish to find the cost of installing Weighing machines where they were not already in existence. It had been indicated that the subsidy on meat would total £500,000, said Mr Hurley. It would be paid to tne butchers, with consequent benefit to the public. The Government proposed introducing regulations mortly, to make the weighing of meat at the killing point compulsory; out proposed, also, to grant exemptions to certain abattoirs where weighing facilities were not available.

Mr Hurley said that counter proposals of the Municipal Association were that, where abattoirs did not nave weighing facilities, and would not instal them, except for the necessity of the rationing scheme, the capital cost should be borne by tne Government out of the War Expenses Acount. The Association’s altitude was also that the running costs should be met, either from the War Expenses Account, or by the abattoir authorities being empowered to pass on the cost.

Mr L. A. Johnston, Town Clerk, of Dunedin, intimated that his Council .might be unable to assist in the matter.’ It did not have weighing facilities. and its abattoir was running at a loss. The onus should be on the butchers. However, they would be quite content if they were empowered to pass on the charge.