PARLIAMENT U.S. Rejections Of N.Z. Meat Debated

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28370, 31 August 1957, Page 14

PARLIAMENT U.S. Rejections Of N.Z. Meat Debated

(New Zealand Association> WELLINGTON, August 30. An “encouraging” report on the possibilities of New Zealand selling prepacked and precut meat in the United States was given to hint by the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture (Mr E. .1. ’Fawcett), the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) told the House of Representatives today during the discussion on the second reading of the Meat Amendment Bill.

The bill provides for the licensing by local authorities of premises used for the packaging of meat for export.- This will make these premises subject to the provisions in the Meat Act, 1939, on construction, equipment, and sanitary conditions.

Tn the field of prepacked meat, H was essential that New Zealand observed the highest possible standards of quality and hygiene. Tn the United “States, where half the meat sold by retailers was prepacked, the highest processing standards in the world were observed, said Mr Holyoake.

Most of the prepacking was done by the retailers themselves which was more economical but, eventually, it would be done largely by the central packing houses.

Britain had not made nearly the same progress in the prepacking of meat as the United States, although many big retail stores in London were selling meat in this way. If there was to be any considerable expansion of the prepacking of meat in New Zealand, it would involve a big capital outlay said Mr Holyoake. Some companies were already experimenting and sending sample shipments overseas.

The licensing authorities for the meat packaging plants would be the appropriate local bodies and the approval of the Minister of Agriculture would also be required, said Mr Holyoake. It was considered only fair and just, however, that licences be granted to existing plants where they met requirements. Matter for Concern

Mr A. H. Nordmeyer <Opposition, Island Bay) said he thought Mr Holyoake might have taken the opportunity to enlighten the House on the reasons for the United States rejected shipments of New Zealand meat. It was a matter of very great concern that New Zealand meat was not meeting the approval of the United States authorities. There had been some hint of the cause of the trouble, but only Mr Holyoake coiild tell the House the complete basis of the complaint and its consequent reflection on New Zealand prestige. Mr Nordmeyer referred to a statement by Mr A. R. Smith, a partner in an Auckland meat and wool exporting firm, that errors by New Zealand exporters in sending meat to the United States had been going on for five years. This indicated a really seriOU|S state of affairs.

Mr Nordmeyer asked Mr Holyoake to state what methods his department intended to adopt to meet the problem-

The bill dealt f with meat packaged for export, but it did not add anything tp the protection of the New Zealand consumer. Mr Nordmeyer asked for an assurance from Mr Holyoake that the standards would be just as high for meat sold in New Zealand as for that packaged for export. He also asked for a clear definition of the responsibilities of local authorities and the Minister of Agriculture in administering the bill Freezing companies, he said, were exempt from the bill, which placed them in s very favourable position over local abattoirs and other organisations that, wanted tn embark on packaging meat for export. Hygiene of Plants The department best fitted to take responsibility for the hygiene of plants where meat was being packaged would probably be the Health Department rather than the Department of Agriculture. At least, there should be the- closest co-operation between the two departments where the packaging of meat, whether for export or domestic consumption, was concerned.

Mr Nordmeyer said that he was in full accord with the main objective of the bill that meat for export be packaged under the best conditions.

Mr G. A. Walsh ‘Government, Tauranga) said there was no cause for alarm in the rejection of meat by the United States. A new market had been won there and it was only to be expected that there would be some difficulties. It would be a great mistake to tie up internal trade with the present bill. If necessary, a separate measure should be introduced. Otherwise, there would be delay in a bill which was of great importance Io New Zealand.