N.Z. EXPORTS TO ASIA

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29799, 16 April 1962, Page 15

N.Z. EXPORTS TO ASIA

“Leaner Meat Required” (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 15. If New Zealand is to expand its meat exports to the Far East, farmers will have to experiment with new breeds of sheep to produce leaner mutton and lamb, Mr R. H. Taylor, managing-dir-ector of an Auckland meat exporting firm, said today. Mr Taylor, who returned on Saturday from ,a fiveweek fact-finding tour of overseas meat markets, said talks with importers in Japan and Hong Kong had convinced him that New Zealand must send Asian countries meat with less fat. “It was practically universal criticism of New Zealand lamb and mutton that it was too fatty.” he said. “We are selling on a buyers’ market now, and we must make sure that the quality of our products meets with our customers’ requirements.”

Mr Taylor said that New Zealand must also start killing meat in accordance with Moslem religious requirements if it was to make any sales at all in Moslem countries. At the moment, this trade was going by default to Australia. “One other factor that is against us in Asian countries at the moment is that our meat prices are slightly higher than those of our competitors—though our quality is better,” he added. “People in the Eastern countries tend to buy on price rather than on quality. However. I think that our promotion efforts are beginning to overcome this attitude.”