MASTER BUTCHERS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21040, 16 February 1940, Page 7

MASTER BUTCHERS

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON DIFFICULT PERIOD REVIEWED (Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The seventh annual conference of the New Zealand Master Butchers’ Industrial Association is being held in the banquet hall at the Exhibition. In welcoming visiting delegates to Wellington and to the Exhibition, the Mayor, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, congratulated the executive on its decision to carry on with the conference in spite of the war. Replying on behalf of visiting delegates, the president, Mr J. F. Carter (Palmerston North), said that the industry played an important part not only in providing an essential food, but also in safeguarding the health of the people. During the conference they would have many important domestic problems to consider, and also the important question of co-oper-ation with the Government in its war measures and in carrying on the industry in the country. Difficult Period “ The trade has, during the year, passed through a difficult period, and the greatest care an economy has still to be exercised by butchers in conducting their business in order to achieve something like a satisfactory result,” stated the annual report of the association.

“ The executive has continued its endeavours to obtain an amendment to the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, 1908. The Bill was considered during the last session of Parliament, when extensive evidence was given before the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee, but, the results of the efforts put forward by . the members of this association can only be referred to as disappointing. The hope of the trade now appears to lie in the Registration of Butchers Bill, which it is believed will bring about better conditions in the trade for the general safeguarding of retail master butchers' interests.

“ The Registration of Butchers Bill has not been lost sight of but has been

under constant review throughout the past year. Representations have been made to the Minister of Agriculture in regard to the Bill, but because the Government during the last session of Parliament indicated iu intention of dealing only with

emergency legislation it was not deemed advisable to force the matter at that stage. It is hoped that the question of the Registration of Butchers Bill will be proceeded with during the coming year.”