MEAT GRADING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25030, 21 October 1944, Page 8

MEAT GRADING

EXTENSION OF SCHEME ALL DOMINION AFFECTED (S.E.) WELLINGTON, Friday The extension to the rest of the Dominion of the grading of meat for the retail market which has been in operation in the Wellington district for almost a year is provided for in a notice which has been gazetted.

The acting-Minister of Industries and Commerce. Mr Nordineyer, stated today that just, beiore his departure overseas the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, acting with the approval of the Cabinet, decided to extend the grading scheme in response to numerous representations from all parts of the country. The grading would come into operation in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin on December 4 and in the remaining abattoir districts on January 1, 1945.

"Meat grading has been operating successfully in Wellington since .November last year under the Board of Trade (INI eat Grading) Regulations, which require that meat sold within the districts to which these apply shall be graded and marked in accordance with the provisions of the relevant standard specification," said Mr Nordineyer. "The extension of the grading scheme will enable the Price Tribunal to relate its price orders to the defined grades of quality which the specification establishes.

"It will also provide a clear and satisfactory basis for the wholesale and retail trade which will remove the conflict that arises from misunderstandng and disagreement concerning the quality of meat sold in relation to the price charged, it will thus establish an equitable basis for competition and so prove of benefit to both traders and consumers.

"Tlie extension of the grading." added the Minister, "is in accordance with the Government's policy of stabilising prices in relation to quality as well as quantity, which is a necessary counterpart to the stabilisation of wages and a stabilised economy generally." POST AND TELEGRAPH TRIBUNAL CRITICISED AUCKLAND PROTEST MADE Its strongest disapproval of the Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill, giving to the service an advisory tribunal, instead of a mandatory tribunal, which has been the long-standing policy of the association, is expressed in a resolution passed at a special meeting of the Auckland section of the Post and Telegraph Employees' Association. The resolution has been forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Postmaster-General and the Chief Whip. The resolution adds that over 2000 officers serving overseas would expect the policy of tlie association to be adhered to and that the decision of the president and Dominion executive was a betrayal of the trust placed in them. The section demanded that the bill should be withdrawn and the matter put to the service by referendum. A further resolution to the general secretary of the association states that the Auckland committee is of the opinion that the executive committee is no longer competent to handle the future affairs of the members and a vote of no-con-fidence accordingly is expressed. A statement issued yesterday by executive members of the Auckland section points out that the policy of an arbitration system for settling disputes in the service is of long standing, dating hack to 1928. The policy that any tribunal set up should have mandatory [lowers has not been varied since, as it is considered that there would be little point in establishing the procedure unless such powers were conferred, for otherwise the decisions would still have to be made bv the Government.

Referring to a recent meeting, the statement adds that strong exception was taken to the manner in which the president flouted the constitution. It claims that the decision to accept an advisory tribunal was made by telephonic communications by the president to individual members of the executive committee, instead of being referred to members of the association as laid down in the rules of the association. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

NEED IN AUCKLAND STATE POLICY ADVOCATED The need for a residential agricultural college in the Auckland district was emphasised by several speakers at the quarterly meeting of the Auckland Vocational Guidance Advisory Council last night. The meeting decided to instruct its delegate to the coming educational conference at Christchurch to urge the Minister of Education to declare a definite policy regarding agricultural education. A report from the agricultural subcommittee of the council stated that an educational programme for the Dominion should be drawn up in such a way as to lay stress on the value of agriculture. It was essential that a sufficient proportion of young people should be attracted to agriculture. Means should be found to hold a larger proportion of country children in a rural environment and io attract fnr greater numbers in urban districts to some branch of the agricultural industry. Attention should also be given to the encouragement of industries and professions which had a rural bearing. The committee recommended that primary schools with rural environment, should be established contiguous to the four main centres, as well as postprimary agricultural schools with farms attached. Special courses in rural sociology and annual refresher courses also should he held. The committee considered that at least two years postprimary education was advisable for those taking up rural life and that a normal training period of from five to six years with oversight and guidance was a necessity. In addition to educational provisions, a plan of farm training and apprenticeship should be put into effect. The committee also considered that a National Farm Training Board should set up to administer a comprehensive policy for the Dominion. COMPENSATION CASE Compensation has been awarded bv Mr Justice O'Regan to William Leonard Bishop, a carpenter, aged 60 (Dr Finlay), who claimed for injury by accident against his employer, the Fletcher Construction Co., Ltd. (Mr G. S. R. Meredith). The plaintiff's case was that he had suffered P hernia through lifting timber on December 15, 1943, and that in future he would have to avoid heavy work. His Honor said it was clear that there was permanent injury, and the plaintiff would be awarded pavments totalling £240 lis 3d, with £ls 15s costs and £3 3s for a professional witness.