FREEZING WORKS
delivery of stock. ALTERATION EXPLAINED. Within a week the new season’s operations commence at the Makarewa and Mataura freezing works. For many ‘ years the recognized practice in the freezing industry was that any particular freezing company could pay the freight on fat stock past the nearest works, or, in other words, the delivery charge was borne by the vendor on the basis of freight to the nearest freezing works. In recent years, however, certain concessions have been made to those within a short radius of the works, and the freight paid on such stock came within the scope of what was defined as “free points.” Notifications of the withdrawal of this concession, recently given by the Southland Frozen Meat Company, has drawn comment from farmers affected, and with a view to obtaining an explanation of the position a Times reporter waited upon Mr A. Derbie, manager of the company, yesterday. The concession referred to was gradually abused, said Mr Derbie, and the company had to take action. Increased quantities of stock were being lorried or driven to these “free points” to enable the producer to participate in the concession, and much dissatisfaction was expressed by those farmers just outside the radius and also by those who were called upon to pay full delivery charges by reason of their location. This question was discussed at length at the annual meeting of the South Island Freezing Companies’ Association and the result of the discussion was that it was unanimously decided to revert to the original practice of the price "on the hooks” on the basis of the nearest works.
“Regarding the question of free lorrying, there has never, in reality been any, for the reason that stock purchased on the farm at per head have invariably been at a price which would cover transport to the works,” added Mr Derbie. “The only difference now will be that purchases on the per head basis will be delivered at works’ and on similar lines to stock purchased at per lb. The one and only exception in deliveries will be where the farmer himself delivers his stock to the works and in this case there will be no deductions, but in all other cases there will be a deduction for railage or droving, or of railage and droving (if both are incurred), or cost of lorrying. In other words all stock, whether at schedule per lb. or per head will be ‘on hooks nearest works.’ Those farmers who have enjoyed the slight concession of recent years, or some of them, will have a grievance, but what about the man further back who has all along been called upon to bear full charges in delivery?” he asked. “Everything considered, the new arrangement is equitable, and to my way of thinking, solves a problem which threatened to disorganize the whole industry. Almost any commodity is paid for at the warehouse or factory—not on the farm—and the argument is all against making a distinction with respect to meat.” The system to operate will apply to all provinces throughout the South Island, and also, with about one exception, to the North Island.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19341206.2.81
Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 22497, 6 December 1934, Page 9
Word Count
525FREEZING WORKS Southland Times, Issue 22497, 6 December 1934, Page 9
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Southland Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.