Japanese See N.Z. Farm Production

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31291, 10 February 1967, Page 1

Japanese See N.Z. Farm Production

Two representatives of Japan’s Livestock Industry Promotion Corporation have formed a good impression of New Zealand pasture and the quality of beef after seeing farms and meat production in Canterbury this week.

They are Mr F. Hayashi, chief of the compensation section of the corporation, and Mr T. Kamba, of the meat section.

They said they were visiting New Zealand to "get a clear idea of New Zealand beef and dairy produce and how it is produced and handled from factory to ship.” The Japanese are not a buying mission but they will report to the corporation on what they have seen when they return to Japan next week.

Canterbury is the first area they have visited in New Zealand and they have been been shown- farming methods on the Dunsandel property of Mr A. C. Wright, a member of the Meat Board. They have also visited leading meat companies in Christchurch and have inspected a freezing works. They said the pastures they had seen were excellent and the quality of produce was good, but it was too early in their tour to express an opinion on the methods of processing and handling New Zealand produce. They said the Japanese meat trade was interested in "good types of beef cuts suitable for the retail trade.” The last tender of 5000 tons of beef imported by Japan included 20 per cent of New Zealand beef and the quality of the beef from New Zealand was satisfactory. Japan’s main dairy imports from New Zealand were skim milk and butter, they said. The quality of both had been good but the Japanese were used to butter paler in colour.

However, the Japanese were becoming accustomed to the colour of New Zealand butter, said Mr Hayashi. Japan required cheese in lesser amounts, he said. At the moment only the Cheddar type of cheese was imported from New Zealand. The visitors left Christchurch by air for Wellington yesterday. In the North Island they will see beef and dairy farms and freezing works and dairy factories. They will have discussions with representatives of the Meat Board and the Dairy Board.

Throughout their New Zealand tour they have had Mr M. Ikeda, manager of the Wellington liaison office of Maru-beni-lida Company, Ltd., as interpreter.