TIME FOR CHECK TO OVERSEAS CONTROL OF N.Z. MEAT WORKS

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1949, Page 5

TIME FOR CHECK TO OVERSEAS CONTROL OF N.Z. MEAT WORKS

Says Parliamentary Committee

P.A. WELLINGTON, October 12. Any further extension of the control of the meat processing industry in this country by the overseas concerns was not desirable, and it should be prevented, stated the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee in a report presented in the t House of Representatives to-night.

The committee considered Liat this was in th e interests of the primary producers and of New Zealand’s economy generally. The committee was reporting on a Southland petition, which sought the issue of a licence for new freezing works for Southland. Its report, which is to be discussed to-morrow night, was presented by the chairman of the committee, Mr G. H. A. Wilson (Palmerston North).

The committee stated, in its report, that it endorsed the announced policy of the Meat Board with regard to the control of the freezing works in New Zealand. It also recorded itn approval of the general poßcy ol the Federated Farmers to encourage the producer-control, of the processing and marketing of primary products. The committee stated that it, therefore, believed that the Meat Board should foster the development of New Zealand-owned works, especially of those in which the producers had the major control, and should take every opportunity to open to it to prepare the way towards the co-operative ownership of this industry, in which so many workers were engaged, and with which the farmers wer e so vitally concerned. On the actual petition itself, the committee had no recommendation to make.