RATIONING OF MEAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25457, 11 February 1944, Page 2

RATIONING OF MEAT

OTAGO PRODUCERS’ COMPLAINT REPLY BY FARMERS’ UNION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. In connection with a resolution adopted at a meeting of farmers, graziers, and stock agents in Dunedin complaining about the Government drawing up the meat-rationing scheme without apparently consulting the authorised representatives of the primary producers, the secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr A. P. O’Shea, to-day said that the Rationing Controller, Mr J. E. Thomas, did consult representatives of the Farmers’ Union and the Meat Board. Mr O’Shea paid a tribute to the controller, who, he said, always endeavoured to see that the farmers got a fair deal under the rationing arrangements, and he was sure that so far as Mr Thomas was concerned every effort would be made to see that the farmers were in no worse a position in regard to the sale of stock than they would be if rationing had not been introduced. “An argument has been between the Stabilisation Commission and the producers of beef in the South Island, but this is a matter in which the Rationing Controller has not been concerned,” Mr O’Shea said. “ Details of the rationing scheme have not yet been brought to finality, but from the representations made to him the controller is aware of the need for seeing that the introduction of rationing is not used to depress fat stock prices. Producers may rest assured that both the Meat Board and the Farmers’ Union are keeping in touch with the position.”