MEAT PRODUCERS’ BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 14

MEAT PRODUCERS’ BOARD

FARMERS EXPRESS CONFIDENCE. WELLINGTON, January 24. At the meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union a letter was received from the Auckland branch of the union expressing dissatisfaction with the Meat Producers’ Board and asking the executive to set up a committee to inquire into the activities of the board. Colonel Pow read a report supplied by the general manager and secretary of the board (Mr W. I. Jessop), who said that the results were classified under 16 heads as follows: 1. T he grade marks had been standardised and graders had been appointed to supervise gradings at the freezing works. 2. Reductions in the export of beef and mutton. 3- Reductions of id in slaughtering and storing. 4. Inspectors under the control of the board were watching the loading operations in New Zealand and_ the discharging in London. 5. The board fixed the sizes of the parcels of mutton in order to minimise the cost of handling. 6. A reduction in freights on tallow and pelts and a reduction in the shipping charges on beef and mutton. These reductions amounted to a gain to the producers of £575,000: 8. Shipments were regulated from time to time. 9. Keeping farmers well posted in the prices of fat stock for export. 10. The board was negotiating in regard to the question of insurance rates with a view to a reduction. 11. The board was extending its markets in the United Kingdom, the Continent, and America. 12. Big reductions in freight from fresh markets. 13. Extensive advertising of New Zealand products. 14. The preparation of statistics in regard to the killing and shipment of stock for the benefit of marketers. 15. A London office had been opened to supply information regarding produce. 16. The board yyas making provision for kidneys and kidney fat. The meeting decided to thank the board for its information and to express its confidence in the board. n