FREEZING WORKS CHARGES

Southland Times, Issue 23026, 21 October 1936, Page 5

FREEZING WORKS CHARGES

POSITION IN SOUTH ISLAND INVESTIGATION ASKED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter). Wellington, October 20. A pica for more equitable charges by freezing works in the South Island was made in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr T. D. Burnett (Nat., Temuka), who addressed an urgent question on the subject to the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin). Mr Burnett said that freezing charges in the South Island were higher than those in the North Island by 9d to lOd a lamb carcass and at least 1/- a mutton carcass. The latest balance-sheets of the South Island freezing companies disclosed an excellent financial position generally, and, accordingly, he asked whether the Minister would order an urgent investigation by the Executive Commission of Agriculture into freezing charges, schedule rates and open competition generally in the South Island, so that farmer producers there would be treated as equitably as those in the North Island. The Minister said that in matters dealing with meat he was naturally guided largely on technical lines by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, an accredited organization specially designed and constituted to safeguard the interests of the meat industry.

“I am in close consultation with that board at present about freezing rates and other matters,” Mr Lee Martin said, “and if it is found advantageous, both to the Government and for the better functioning of the board that a special investigation covering the various points enumerated should be undertaken, the possibility of an inquiry by the commission will be given due consideration.”