FREEZING WORKS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21789, 19 October 1940, Page 6

FREEZING WORKS

Question Of Space Statement From Board Required Two remits from the Geraldine and Temuka branches dealing with the possibility of a shortage of space at the freezing works were the subject of a long discussion at tlie monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, when it was decided that they should be re-framed by the proposers and the secretary, Mr A. B. Struthers, and forwarded to the Dominion executive and submitted to the Meat Producers’ Board and the Government. Mr J. Macaulay pointed out that if there should be a shortage of space it would accentuate the problem as to who would receive space for their frozen meat at the works. Mr Macauley recalled that during the last war big shareholders in the freezing companies had obtained an undue allocation of space. The whole matter required a direct statement from the Meat Board, as it was creating concern from Otago and right up through Canterbury. He would like to know when the functions of the Meat Board commenced and finished and when the Government’s functions commenced. Different statements had been made by representatives of the Meat Board and of the Electoral Committee. The position affected all sheep farmers. There was apparently a lack of confidence between the Meat Board and the Government, and that state of affairs must be brought to an end before the farmers could get satisfaction. One statement had announced that the required extensions to the freezing works could be carried out within six or seven weeks, while another said that provision should be made for additional space. The whole position needed to be clarified. Mr Macaulay moved: “That this Executive ask the Meat Board to clarify the position as regard its own functions and the position as adopted by the Government in regard to the provision of sufficient space in the freezing works to handle the stock available. Special Payment Made Mr A. Dobson said that during the last war he had paid 2, 6 a carcase in order to secure space at the freezing works. Mr W. Scott mentioned that Mr H. B. S. Johnstone, the South Canterbury representative on the Electoral Committee, had told the Farmers’ Union Executive at its previous meeting that additional buildings could be provided within six or seven weeks, if necessary. Surely that was all that was required? Mr P. R. Talbot raised a point of order on the grounds that the discussion tended towards an expression of no confidence in their representative on the Electoral Committee. Mr A. Ward suggested as an amendment that the Executive should write to the Meat Board asking if sufficient space was available in the freezing works to deal with the coming season’s meat. The president (Mr A. J. Davey) ruled that he could not accept the point of order. The secretary (Mr A. B. Struthers) assured the meeting that from inquiries he had made he understood that there would be plenty of space in the local freezing works. Mr Ward withdrew his amendment, and the motion was carried, a copy to be forwarded to the Tom inion Executive of the Farmers’ Union with the request that the matter be taken up with the Meat Board.