Japan Huge Meat Market

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31345, 15 April 1967, Page 3

Japan Huge Meat Market

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 14. Japan was described today by Mr H. A. Seifert, official spokesman for the New Zea-land-owned freezing companies, as a meat vacuum in which there were enormous possibilities for mutton and lamb. Mr Seifert, who returns from a three-week busine visit to Japan, Hong Kon Singapore and Honolulu, sai

he agreed wholeheartedly with the view of the chairman of the Dairy Board (Sir L Andrew Linton) that New j Zealand should transfer to 11 Japan some of its trade with Australia. i- “Singapore is well fed from local sources,” he said. “Hong _ Kong is supplied from China, ; but it will take beef and lamb * for the tourist trade. e “Japan is the place we [. should be concentrating on a even more fully. The Meat “ Board has done a good job on promotion, but its efforts . could well be extended. “It will mean hard selling r™ to develop the Japanese market further, but I am certain it can be done.”

He was amazed at the amount of money that all classes of people in Japan had to spend, but meat was fantastically dear in Japan by New Zealand standards. Also, retail outlets left much to be desired. While he was in Japan the wife of a New Zealand friend living there had paid £1 for a pound of “doubtful" mince and a pound of stewing steak. “The policy of the Japanese Government is to give the people more protein,” said Mr

Seifert, “but one of our difficulties is that over the centuries the Japanese have had so little meat of our type that they don’t even know what it is.

“Furthermore, they have a choice of home-grown poultry and pork and a plentiful supply of tuna. “The Japanese have the

money and they will buy meat from choice, not from necessity. This is why we must continue to educate them in the use of our meat and promote it as we have never done before. “At the same time, it would be a tremendous help if we could offer them more trade with us.” i