The sun., 1919-07-23
STATE ABATTOIRS
TO BE- REORGANIZED
government of New South
Wales Has Plan to Make
Them Efficient.

Some years ago an elaborate system
Of Government abattoirs was estab-
lished by the Government of New South
Wales which was intended to assure
the graziers a larger return from their
cattle and sheep and at the same time
reduce the cost of meat TO the conSum-
ers. How the venture resulted is told
by the Australian correspondent Of the
National .Propisioner, who says;
4 THE most momentous development in
the meat industry in Australia during
recent weeks has been the announce
ment by the Government Of New South
Wales OF a scheme for dealing with the
State abattoirs near Sydney These
works have never been a success. Up
to the present somewhere about mil
Hon and a half sterling has been spent
on them without making them efficlent.
and this capital charge has been load
on them which the works have been
unable to carry.
After an investigation by com
mission the State Government decided
as a first step to write down the capital
value OF the abattoirs to point TO DC
decided upon after independent valu.
alton to somewhere near the present.
market value Of the works. Presum-
ably the taxpayers in general VIII have
70 bear the loss of the capital sunken
In the venture beyond THIS amount. The
Interest on the capital value about to
he decided upon, will be a first charge
upon the operation Of the works
To Distribute Profits.
IAN innovation will be the distribu'
ton of all profits beyond the amount re-
auired to meet the charges among sup
pliers In the form of a bonus. In thit
way II 10 hoped to secure q steady
stream OF supplies. Special provision
will be made in the reconstructed abat
toirs for the saving Of the by products
which are not handled to full advan
tage at present. The whole establish
ment is to be reconstructed In parts II
accordance with the best expert advice
special provision being made for cold
storage on a large scale.
'In future suppliers Of stock are to 81
allowed to consign through the existing
commercial channels or directly to thu
board for slaughter. Provision also will
be made for direct purchase by th'
board. either on consignment or on tn
ranges. These operations will not be in
cluded in the general abattoir accounts
The board will also have power to ar
range for the distribution OF meat
"A special board has been appointed
70 control the abattoirs. and the raiser
OF cattle will have direct representation
which they have always sought withou
success The Premier states that tn
most important function of the boar
will be TO control the distribution o
meat to the public.
IAN retail butchers are to be licenses
by the board, and one condition or tn
license will be that It may be withdraw
n It is proved that the retailer is charg
ing excess profits over the cost prices.
THE board will also have power t
purchase when supplies are plentiful an
lay the meat In cold stores. with a vieN
70 meeting the situation when supple
are short. Space 10 also TO be availabl
At the distributing depots for retailer
who desire TO hold meat in storage. Tn
members OF the board are to be pal
1850 per annum each.
Price Fixing Has Been n Faiiurs
'The scheme is regarded as an effoI
TO grapple with the problem OF the hig
price OF meat by eliminating all secor
dairy charges. It represents an alterns
tive to price fixing, which has been
failure. 1t 10 regarded as reIfehens
BILE that the consumer pays about twic
IS much for his meat az the produce
receives. II 10 the endeavor TO secur
Q good price 70 the producer and "
allow the consumer to get the meat at
reasonable price. which Ia foremost 1
the present scheme.
IA the meantime, the prospects Il
large supplies Of meat In Australia a
somewhat remote. owing TO the unfavoi
able season. The Industrial difficultis
having been removed. start has bee
s..aa nth cha kilItn = ~ naftla IN nuaaxs,
land while mutton ID being treated
the other States. But owing to q
scarcity OF refrigerated tonnage the sto
age accommodation will not allow {,
very great operations. even II supplt