Beef Arrives Bad In Tahiti

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31837, 15 November 1968, Page 1

Beef Arrives Bad In Tahiti

A potential business in export of fresh meat to Tahiti had been lost to Canterbury because a substantial trial order of chilled beef had arrived in poor condition, said the acting chairman of the air services committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Mr R. C. Neville) at the monthly meeting of the council’s chamber last evening.

Mr Neville said that a time lag and possible bad handling of -he containers or packaging , evidentlycaused the consignment to arrive at Tahiti in poor condition. He said that there were no cool storage facilities at

either Christchurch or Auckland airports. This situation was being remedied in Christchurch but he had not heard of any similar action in Auckland.

The chamber decided to refer the matter to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to seek its support in endeavouring to obtain cool storage space at Mangere Airport. The chamber would also bring the supply of fresh foodstuffs to Tahiti to the attention of airlines. Mr Neville said that it was obvious that if Canterbury was to compete with other countries in supplying fresh foodstuffs to markets in the Pacific, quick and efficient transport was necessary. Members of the air services committee believed that a direct flight from Christchurch to Tahiti would overcome present difficulties and considerable trade would ensue.

It was appreciated that a flight from Christchurch would have to call at Auckland as there would not be sufficient traffic in passengers and freight to make the flight pay.