MEETING OF FARMERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2746, 26 February 1910, Page 2

MEETING OF FARMERS.

AIOTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED

The following motions will be brought up for discussion and consideration at the meeting of farmers to be held under the auspices of the Gisborne branch of the Farmers’ Union in the Fanners’ Union Olub rooms at 2 p.m. to .■'day. 1. That this meeting would strongly urge upon the Government to .see that the necessary legislation is introduced making it compulsory for all meat exported from the Dominion to be graded by a Government grader, in the same manner as butter, cheese and hemp, are now graded. It is not suggested that there should be one uniform grade throughout the Dominion, but that, if the experts consider that there is a marked difference in quality, discretion should be allowed them ; nor is it suggested that the grader should be given any power to interiors with the classification of the meat for trade purposes. Neither it is suggested that he should stop the export cl any meat so long a.s it is not diseased, and is fit for human consumption, although it is below the standard of the ordinary established grades, but that it should be marked as “rejected from grading.” as is now done with lowgrade hemp, butter and cheese, with the following main objects: (a) To simplify business; (b) to provide facilities for checking and protecting the farmers’ interests, both as regards the freezing works and the London agents, while it will also tend to educate the farmer to provide against defects in his stock; (c) to establish a uniformity of grading, which is essential to protect the interests of the farmer, as well as the buyer; (d) to establish an impartial and independent medium to facilitate the pooling of small shipments of meat, which is a growing necessity. 2. That a fitter bo scut to both local freezing companies asking them, firstly, to state wliat charge they would make for storing frozen meat until the “off” season in this Dominion, the charge tr be fixed on a monthly basis, subject to, say, a weekly adjustment, in ease the meat is shipped when only a part of a month has expired; and. secondly, would the companies require a guaranteed quantity of meat to bo stored to warrant the -works continuing five zing after the ordinary time for closing down, and, if so, what- quantity would require to bo guaranteed? 3. That if a specified quantity of meat is required to be guaranteed for storing, then a. committee should be authorised to canvass, and ascertain ii a sufficient number of stock can be secured for storing, and to be .-".hipped, so far as possible, at regular intervals during the “off” season.