DECISION WELL RECEIVED

Southland Times, Issue 23732, 2 February 1939, Page 6

DECISION WELL RECEIVED

“ONUS NOW PLACED ON COMPANIES”

STATEMENT MADE BY MR A. R. JOHNSTON

Complete satisfaction with the decision of the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) not to grant an additional export freezing licence for Southland was expressed last evening by Mr A. R. Johnston, president of the Southland provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, and by Mr John Gilkison, chairman of the Southland Frozen Meat Company. When Mr A. Napper, of Woodlands, organizer of the producers’ delegation which waited on the Minister with the request for an additional licence, was invited by The ’ Southland Times to comment on the decision he said: ‘ I have nothing to say just now. I shall probably have a lot to say later on. “The decision issued today by the Minister of Agriculture about the question of a new freezing licence for Southland has been awaited, and will be received, with considerable interest by all parties directly interested and, no doubt, by many others in the province not directly concerned,” said Mr Johnston. • “Taking all the pros and cons of the question into consideration, the Minister has made a wise decision. “The widespread and animated discussions which have surrounded the question during the past seven months have assuredly been of benefit to Southland producers,” he continued. “The Minister has decided that, in the meantime, a fresh licence is not warranted, but he has stipulated that improved facilities—increased accommodation, more competition and reduced charges must be provided by the existing companies.. Their works are to be extended so that the already big amount of stock offering will be handled more expeditiously. “With increased killing capacities, the companies are in a better position to meet the reduced killing charges, now fixed on a basis comparable with those of Whakatu,” Mr Johnston said. MORE COMPETITION “More competition is already in evidence in the province, and it is reported that in some cases schedule rates have been exceeded. The Southland schedule, which is on a par with the rest of the South Island is at the present time above that ruling in the North Island. This is to be expected, since, on his visit to Invercargill in June last, the chairman of the Meat Producers’ Board stated that Southland produced the best lamb in the world. This being so, the Southland schedule should lead for the rest of New Zealand to follow.

“The Minister has had a difficult problem to solve,” Mr Johnston continued, “and is to be congratulated on his frank and full statement of the position. The onus is now placed on the Southland companies to provide a service adequate for the needs of the fat lamb producers of our province, and, with the co-operation of all concemed, it is to be hoped that the provision of much improved services, as are desired, will result in substantial benefits for all concerned.” MR GILKISON’S VIEWS “We are of the opinion that the Minister has treated us very fairly,” .said Mr Gilkison. “Although the charges fixed are on the low side, it really does not affect the Southland companies as much as it does the others. We’have always maintained that the Southland farmers get as much for their lamb as do those in Canterbury, and the step taken by the Minister will undoubtedly bear out our contentions. The proposals made by the Minister were the result of discussions with us and he has done nothing that is contrary to the wishes of the Southland companies.” Mr Gilkison added that a new Dominion award was being sought by the freezing works employees and if the demands were acceded to it would necessitate an increase in the freezing charges.