Farm Exports By Big Jets Urged

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31168, 19 September 1966, Page 3

Farm Exports By Big Jets Urged

"The Press" Special Service

HAMILTON, September 18.

The purchase of aircraft to carry farm produce overseas was urged by the president of the Waikato Federated Farmers, Mr M. G. Hewitt, at the meeting of the provincial executive in Hamilton.

“If New Zealand sticks with refrigeration as the major method of exporting, we will cease to survive as an exporting country,” he said.

“The question is, are we big enough to face up to getting aircraft of our own or will we allow others to bring in the aircraft and get ourselves in the position we are now in with shipping?

‘•Not much will be said about this before the election, but it is with us.” Mr Hewitt asked the executive to take a keen interest in politics as the election approached. ‘‘ln spite of the fact that we have just had a record year’s production far above the estimate of increases. New Zealand is in the biggest financial mess it has ever been in,” he said.

“I cannot see any strong lead in any political party that will solve the farming problems.”

Mr Hewitt said the farming industry hid four years in which to ge. its house in order ready for air freighting. Two 425-ton Lockheed 500 aircraft for air freighting would cost £l5 million. The aircraft had a life of 15 years and there would be

from 10 to 15 years in which to pay for them.

Two such aircraft were capable of handling as much cargo annually as three modern refrigerated ships. The freight rate from New Zealand to areas in the Pacific Basin would be as low as two cents a ton-mi le. Food For 330,000

Mr Hewitt said one plane in one load could carry a luxury meal for 330,000 people, with modern preservation such as freeze-dried foods, the same number of people could be fed for a week from one load. “The use of air transport for a large portion of our fresh produce is a lot nearer than is generally anticipated in New Zealand.” said Mr Hewitt. “By 1969 we could be operating one or two of these planes from New Zealand to such places as Hong Kong. Singapore, and the west coast of America, and we could be fully organised in these operations by 1971. “If everyone plays their part 1 can see a daily service of 100 tons of top-quality fatless meat being flown out of New Zealand.” Particular attention should

be given to the cultivation of crops such as strawberries, he said. These could be flown to the Northern Hemisphere when they were out of season there.