MASTER BUTCHERS CONFER

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9093, 12 July 1915, Page 10

MASTER BUTCHERS CONFER

A conference of master butchers of the Dominion was held at Air W. McKenzie’s office, Palmerston North, on Wednesday. There was a large attendance. Air W. C. Hampton (Wellington) was voted to the chair, and Air AloEenzio w r as appointed conference secretary. The chairman explained what had led up to convening the conference, and its objects. He had received a letter from a representative butcher in Dunedin, who was entirely in sympathy with the movement. After full discussion, it was decided to extend the scope of the conference to cover all matters of general interest to the trade.

Mr Percy Salmon (Auckland) moved:—“That an increase in tho Government grant for condemned stock was necessitated by the rise in. price of stock.” —Seconded by Mr C. F. Carter (Palmerston North), and carried.

Mr Salmon moved; — 1 ‘That the Minister he approached with a view of having tho compensation for condemned st<fck increased by 75 per cent.”—-Seconded by Mr E. Hampton (Palmerston North), and carried. Tho chairman moved:—“That the Government bo requested to make it compulsory that the vendor pay a share of the loss on condemned cattle on the basis of Government compensation.”—Seconded by Mr Carter ano carried. A remit from the Auckland Butchers’ Association was moved by Mr Salmon:—“That the whole expense of running municipal abattoirs be borna by hanging fees.”—lt was seconded,, pro forma, by Mf J. Knight (Christchurch). Mr E. Hampton moved as an amendment:—“That the subject of expense of running municipal abattoirs, as provided by clause 27 of tho Slaughtering and Inspection Act, bo brought under the notice of the Agricultural Department, with a view of securing a just apportionment of charges.”—This was seconded by Mr B. O. Reid (Wellington). Tho amendment was carried. Mr Salmon moved“ That the Agricultural Department bo requested to take into consideration tho compulsory dehorning of all young cattle.”— Seconded by Mr Carter' and carried. Mr Salmon moved:—“That the Agricultural Department he requested to communicate with the Railway Department to see if better provision can bo made for railing cattle.”—Seconded by Mr E. Hampton and carried. Mr Knight moved:—“That tho Agricultural Department be requested to make an appeal to farmers throughout the Dominion to husband all stock with young, with a view to increasing the herds of the country, and that tho department be urged to instruct abattoir inspectors, ip cases where cattle are obviously advanced in. pregnancy, to refuse to allow such cattle to be slaughtered.”—Seconded by Mr W. Spicer (Christchurch) and carried. .

It was resolved that copies of the foregoing resolutions be sent to the various butchers’ associations throughout the’ Dominion, with request for endorsement to be forwarded to Mr W. C. Hampton, ' Wellington, when they will ho placed before the Minister by a deputation at the earliest opportunity, the deputation to comprise representatives from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and as many others as can attend.

Mr Salmon moved:—“That it be » recommendation to butchers’ associations that efforts be made to teach boys the trade by assisting,- in the first place, to organise classes at technical schools.”—Seconded by Mr J. T. Follas (Palmerston North) and carried. Mr Knight moved;—“That it be a recommendation to the delegates present to form a Federation of Master Butchers, and that another conference be held in the near future with thin object.”—Seconded by Mr W. Tucker (Wanganui), and carried. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr W. C. Hampton as convener and chairman of the conference, and to the Palmerston Master Butchers’ Association for their hospitality and assistance in carrying out the conference.