ABATTOIRS QUESTION

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19661, 22 August 1935, Page 9

ABATTOIRS QUESTION

REPLY BY BUTCHERS

COMPANY ALSO CONCERNED.

DENIAL OF ALLEGATIONS. Arising out of the discussion at the previous meeting of tho council on the municipal abattoirs proposal, further correspondence was received at the meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last evening from the butchers’ representatives and the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company. The secretary of the South Auckland Master Butchers’ Industrial Union of Employers advised the council that the committee of the union was naturally disappointed at the council’s decision, particularly as it had appeared that very good reasons had been given why a municipal abattoir should be erected: . No good reasons had been advanced why it should not-be built. In minor matters the Freezing Company may have been quite reasonable, but the main objection lay In the killing charges, which had been proved to be entirely unjustified, a contention verified by comparisons with other towns. He alleged that a pistol had been hela at the council’s head some years ago by the company, which had fqroed an acceptance of- its terms- Again lest year it had refused to make any concessions until it was thought the counoil “meant business. If a business that was rendering an expensive or incomplete service was to be given a free Held for all time, no progress would ever take place in New Zealand, If cheaper and more efficient service could be given by the proposed abattoir there was question-. of the creation of fated competition. . • ' Exception to RemeraSSi The committee had taken strong exception to the remarks of Mr U Lafferty, which had been published. It was thought that the facts and figures carefully prepared and verified by the council and referred to the department would have made it clear that the project did not mean the council carrying “a toad o r making an expensive change. lhe committee Of the nmten would like to have the opportunity of discussing the matter further with the councils abattoir committee. The report of the oQunoll s 'discussion was also referred to by the secretary of the Auckland Farmers Freezing Company, Ltd., Mr N. HThomson. It had been stated that a carcase from Horotlu had recently been viewed in a Hamilton butcher’s shop, and that the carcase was in a shocking.condition for the time of the: year. The reason given was that the stock was -driven nine miles and plaoed in a holding paddock with no food Freezing Company’s Position.

The company wished to state that a distance of nine miles was not by any means an unreasonable journey for stock, and the effect of such a journey in capable hands would not be detrimental to . the quality of the stock. This season cattle had been brought for chilling purposes from distances up to 50 miles, and cables to hand indicated that the quality of the meat | on arrival in London was excellent. I No more discriminating buyers werej to be found than the Smlthfleld Meat • Market. , " Referring to the holding paddooks, j Mr Thomson said that a special pad-: dock was allotted for the use of abat- i toir butchers. As with all grass pad-j docks at this time of year, the paddock was a little bare, but at all times hay was available at the works, and might be purchased by the butchers for feeding to their stook should they wish to keep them for lons periods at the works, Aftef* extending an invitation to members of the council to visit Horo-. tlu at any time, Mr Thomson asked for further information to investigate the report of a “shocking carcase” by Mr H. D. Caro. The Mayor, Mr J- R. Fow, in moving that tho lotters be received and handed over to the press, said he could not see that any good purpose would be served by reopening the subject, which had already been fully dlsoussed by the council. Mr J. B. Tldd considered the council should meet the butchers’ committee as the latter had suggested- If tho butchers had any grievances, as he believed they had, the council should hear them. , „ , , Explaining his attitude, Mr C. Lafferty Bald throughout he had been anxious for the butchers to receive a fair deal. However, If the butchers would not finance the abattoirs he did not sec why the council should. He had heard some of the butchers suggest that the public could lind the money by paying another Id per lb on meat,. , “If that is so it is a very serious state of affairs," commented Mr A. J. | Honz. “I understood that the ihutohers said if the abattoirs wore established they would bo able to 'cheapen the meat." 1 Tho motion was carried. A further resolution, proposed by Mr Tldd, was carried, that tho Butchers’ Association ho invited to oonfor with tho General Purposes CommiUou regarding any mailers they desired to bring before the freezing company.