SOCIAL gatherings were important in the growth and development of the early trade unions, and picnics were especially popular. The first Butchers' Picnic was held in Brisbane in June 1889. It grew the next year, with more prizes and bigger attendance.

With the union's revival, picnic, smoke concerts, dinners and other social activities were held on a regular or periodic basis. Records show picnics were held in Rockhampton, Townsville, Biboohra, Brisbane, Beaudesert, Toowoomba, Oakey, Murgon, Ipswich, Mareeba and Killarney. Other places undoubtedly were not recorded.

Because of the isolation of some works, entertainment and amusements were organised for the weekends. Veteran unionist, Roy 'Sancho' Wright, who joined the union in 1923, wrote of the old Burdekin works: "Before the daily train commenced, we organised sport on some weekends, also pony races, dogfights ... A team from the works played in the 70wnsville rugby league competition. In 1929, the last year the works operated, we won the A Grade grand final. "

In the large centres picnics were big affairs. The organisers claimed the 1951 Rockhampton picnic to be "the largest industrial picnic ever held in Australia. " Five special trains and cars carried between 4000 and 5000 people to Emu Park. They tucked into 25,000 ice creams, 1050 gallons of soft drink and 3700 bags of lollies and biscuits. The picnic, financed by a levy, cost more than 2000 pounds. ($4000)

Townsville was later on the scene: Alligator Creek and Ross River combined to hold the first picnic at Black River in 1949. Picnics were set back with the 1962 federal award, which declared them "Unauthorised stoppages", even though the day was taken off without pay. After long and persistent struggle, a paid picnic day was won in 1975.

Dinners and other functions have also been held to honour union pioneers. In Brisbane, an annual function presents union life memberships to union stalwarts. One unique function was the Rockhampton "Boners' Ball", held during World War 2 to raise money for welfare.

Queensland has seen many great butchers' picnics, with keenly fought competition for the champion tug-of-war team. This is no longer a purely male pursuit; at some picnics, equally keen rivalry and competition exists between women's teams.

SINCE the formation of the EEC, Australia, the world's biggest single beef exporter, has depended on the U.S. and Japanese markets.

The Japanese meat market, part of the very powerful political farm lobby, has been very tightly controlled, yielding enormous profits to its monopoly controllers and manipulators.

The recent easing of controls leading to more open and competitive market by 1992 is bringing about a radical change in Australian beef production and processing.

Japanese capital, either openly or through shelf companies, is now a big and growing investor in the industry. They own or have large interests in cattle stations, feedlots, and processing plants. The end product is exported to their own wholesaling and retailing networks in Japan. They control every aspect of the product from conception to consumption.

The new names in the industry today at Nipon Ham, Kyodo KShiro, Murabeni Mitsubishi, Hannan and other Japanese firms. This expansion is facing growing criticism from wide sections of the community

Queensland, as a largely primary production and mineral-producing state, has had long experience of the power and influence of large overseas control. If the lessons are not learnt and some control extended or exercised, there will be problems ahead for the industry and the future livelihood of meatworkers.

SINCE the formation of the EEC, Australia, the world's biggest single beef exporter, has depended on the U.S. and Japanese markets.

The Japanese meat market, part of the very powerful political farm lobby, has been very tightly controlled, yielding enormous profits to its monopoly controllers and manipulators.

The recent easing of controls leading to more open and competitive market by 1992 is bringing about a radical change in Australian beef production and processing.

Japanese capital, either openly or through shelf companies, is now a big and growing investor in the industry. They own or have large interests in cattle stations, feedlots, and processing plants. The end product is exported to their own wholesaling and retailing networks in Japan. They control every aspect of the product from conception to consumption.

The new names in the industry today at Nipon Ham, Kyodo KShiro, Murabeni Mitsubishi, Hannan and other Japanese firms. This expansion is facing growing criticism from wide sections of the community

Queensland, as a largely primary production and mineral-producing state, has had long experience of the power and influence of large overseas control. If the lessons are not learnt and some control extended or exercised, there will be problems ahead for the industry and the future livelihood of meatworkers.