Difficult To Investigate Freezing Cos.' Position

Northern Advocate, 8 October 1941, Page 8

Difficult To Investigate Freezing Cos.' Position

Two letters relative to bobby calf killings from the Minister for Marketing (Mr. Barclay) were received by the Whangarei Sub-provincial of the Farmers’ Union at the quarterly meeting yesterday. “The whole matter of the operations of the freezing industry is so complicated and there is the opportunity for agents and others to mis-state their returns or to render these in a manner which is capable of different constructions, as to make any investigation very difficult,” Mr. Barclay stated. Doubtful of Action With one specified organisation not paying on the actual live weight at the gate basis, difficulties arose in assessing the actual returns as compared with other pools working on a consignment basis, and Mr. Barclay felt doubtful as to what should be the correct action to take. Another firm had advised that it did not make a processing rebate to any pools or agents, and expressed itself as being willing to accept a regulation making it mandatory for all freezing work processing calves to disclose any rebate, preferenFial allowance or favourable consideration given to any agent or pool authority, and to make such advantages available to all pools similarly situated. Mr. Barclay said that it therefore appeared that there was no rebate given in the case of the firm in regard to processing costs. In a further letter to the sub-pro-vincial, Mr. Barclay said that a dairy production officer attached to the Internal Marketing Department had reported having had conversations with the Auckland office of the union concerning the Whangarei executive’s resolution.

Time Not Opportune The departmental officer had advised that after full discussion, the Auckland office had agreed that the time was not opportune for carrying out such a survey as had been requested, and that the proposals made by the department to straighten out the bobby calf position generally, constituted the only practical course that could be taken in the circumstances. Mr. Barclay concluded by saying that the department was taking what, in its opinion, was the most effective step to put the situation in order. “We should know what Auckland told the departmental officer,” Mr. A. Wiblin said. “This executive was told that a particular firm was killing , 1/6 per head below the cost at Moerewa. Whv did Auckland go back on us?” The acting secretary (Mr. R. Fairburn) said he had been in the Auckland office when the departmental officer had called and had been impressed with his attitude on the matter. He seemed in complete agreement with the Farmers’ Union policy. Mr. Wiblin: It was the undercutting of our co-operative works to which we objected. Mr. Moore: Put it down as just another of the mysteries connected with freezing charges. The letter was received and the matter is to be pursued further.