MEAT TRUST AND FARMER – OWNED FREEZING WORKS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6812, 16 January 1929, Page 6

MEAT TRUST AND FARMER - OWNED FREEZING WORKS

Auckland Producers Alarmed MR POLSON ATTACKS MEAT BOARD Per Press Association. STBATFOBD, Last Night. The Auckland Farmers’ Union has communicated with Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., Dominion President of the Farmers’ Union, stating that information has been received alleging that Vestys had made use of the permission granted by the Meat Board to extend the official accommodation at the Westfield freezing works to build an enlarged slaughtering board increasing the daily capacity from 3000 to 5400. Mr Poison telegraphed Hon. W. G. Forbes, Minister of Agriculture, on the matter ,and the Minister replied that he realised the seriousness of the statement made and would institute inquiries. ,

In an interview, Mr Poison said it appeared the Auckland farmers were pressing tho matter because they understood the Meat Board recommended that Vestys be allowed to uso the 24 new hooks installed. Vestys claim that the farmers' company are unable to deal with all their stock, but the farmers' company says the stock could be dealt with at the Horotui works, past which stock is railed to Southdown. One of the first principles laid down by the Meat Board following its formation, was that whilo there would be no interference with existing conditions, no overseas interest would be allowed to own or substantially control further freezing works in New Zealand. The proposed increase at Westfield constitutes a serious menace to tho farmers' works. The common practice of the Meat Trust is to inflate values until the farmers’ works are driven out of business and then to buy stock at its own value. One is inclined to wonder what is behind this extraordinary and surreptitious concession’ to Vestys in the face of the protestation of farmers. Has the Meat Board yielded to pressure and decided to quietly reverse the policy it was created to carry out without any mandate to do so from the producers whose trustees its members are?

Mr Poison concluded by saying the time had arrived when there should bo no Government representation on either the Meat Board or Dairy Board. Such incidents as the present gave colour to that opinion.,