MEAT INDUSTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18075, 17 April 1919, Page 9

MEAT INDUSTRY.

SHORTAGE OF SLAUGHTERMEN. A shortago of slaughtermen is seriously affecting the meat industry in Canterbury, and through it the farmers of the districtinfluenza and other circumstances have prevented the usual number of slaughtermen coming to New Zealand from Australia this season. It is tho practice for slaughtermen to. complete their work in the North Island and come to Canterbury in ample time to take up slaughtering here. This is made possible by the fact that the Canterbury season, as a rule, is a few weeks 'behind the North Island season. This year, the North Island season is late, nnd overlaps the Canterbury season. Slaughtermen, therefore, are staving in tlub North Island just now nnd the Canterbury freezing companies find it impossible to obtain sufficient hands to slaughter all the sheep nnd cattle that are being sent in- One company has absolutely declined to slaughter cattle at present, using all the available hands for sheep, Tho shortage is reflected on the farms, and farmers are being put to much inconvenience and to some expense.