MANPOWER SHORTAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 11 March 1943, Page 6

MANPOWER SHORTAGE

BUTCHERS’ STAFF PROBLEMS

STATEMENT BY DOMINION PRESIDENT

Much had been done to restrict the efforts of retailers to overcome the serious situation created by the loss of manpower, said the president of the New Zealand Master Butchers’ Industrial Association of Employers (Mr T. W. Stephenson) when addressing deleI gates to the Dominion conference, which | was opened in Christchurch on Tuesday.

| “While every effort has been put fori ward by the State to protect the ini terests of the public by controlling j prices,” said Mr Stephenson, “it is difflj cult for me to point to one action on ! the part of the Government that has i been promulgated to give power to reI tailers to maintain or extend the service { which is being given to the public.”

; After tedious and protracted efforts by his association, said Mr Stephenson, the Government had made the retail butchery industry essential. “But, unfortunately, this decision came too late to safeguard butchers in retaining the necessary staffs.” he added. “Control appears to be the general order of the authorities. We have had imposed upon us price fixation orders which i have not been based on fair profit mar- ! gins. But notwithstanding this, the re- ! tailers have continued to give of their j best to the public.” Retail butchers, particularly in the South Island, had been concerned over the supply of stock or meat. Retail prices of beef was a subject which, he said, would have to be fully ven-

tilated at the conference. "It is to be regretted that the authorities pay more attention to the interest of the consumers,” said Mr Stephenson, “than to the interests of the retailers.” Under the existing law the retailer was expected to give service equal to that provided in 1939, irrespective of the availability of supplies and labour, and irrespective of an increase in costs. “This seems an iniquitous state of affairs,” he said, “and one that calls for forceful representations to the Government.”

GRADING OF MEAT Mr Stephenson also referred to the grading of meat. “We are shortly to face more control in the form of grading of meat,” he said. “Surely a more convenient time to impose restrictions and great responsibilities on traders would be when retailers are able to obtain sufficient manpower, and are also able to obtain a return equivalent for the extra trouble and expense that will be imposed as a result of the bringing in of new grading schemes.” Representations had been made to the Government, according to the annual report, requesting that the introduction of meat grading should be restricted in the meantime to the four principal centres. The executive had been advised, however, by the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. J. G. Barclay) that the Government intended to make the plan universal throughout the country. It would be introduced first in the four main centres, and then would be extended throughout the Dominion. It was not known when the plan would be introduced, but it was believed that that would take place when the Government had available the requisite staff.

The conference resolved to ask the Government to lift the ban on sausage casings and cellophane casings as they were considered essential to the industry. The Government was also appealed to to give priority in shipping to the importation of greaseproof paper from North America.

Mr K. L. Read, of Wellington, moved that the present system of purchase of stock and meat be thoroughly examined with a view to having more satisfactory arrangement made in the interests of retail butchers. This was seconded by Mr A. Evans, another Wellington delegate.

Mr S. Hughes, of Christchurch, moved as an amendment that because of the proposed introduction by the Government of a plan of control for the sale and purchase of pigs, a decision on the lines of Mr Read’s plan be held over temporarily.

The discussion was taken in com mittee on this remit.