KILLING FOR EXPORT

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29222, 4 June 1960, Page 8

KILLING FOR EXPORT

Season Near Close

The killing season at the seven Canterbury freezing works is drawing to a close and will probably end within the next two to three weeks. Total killings to the end of May of sheep and lambs were about 5.25 m. compared with 5m to the same date last year. Last year the season carried on until early July for a total kill of 5.5 m. According to one spokesman, the total this season could quite easily equal last year‘S record figure, but could be within 106.000 either way.

Slowing Down Spokesmen for the four companies operating in the Canterbury area north of the Waitaki said that most of the works were now operating at reduced capacities. Islington and Smithfield works of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, Ltd., will probably close on about June 17. Canterbury Frozen Meat Company. Ltdi’s Fairfield works may close at the end of next week with Pareora shutting down on June 18. The Belfast works will be a little later, with killing being reduced to local trade requirements. Thomas Borthwick and Son <Australasia), Ltd., will be ending their season at Belfast within a fortnight and the North Canterbury Sheepfarmers’ Co-operative Freezing Company, Ltd., will cease killing for export on June 10.

On the assumption that the total kill for the season will be 5.5 m, lamb killings will be much the same or slightly less than last season, a spokesman for one company said. The only variation will be the effect of the 100,000, Or so, sheep railed north from South* land which could make the ewe kill slightly bigger.