COMPANY’S MEAT EXPORT PLANS

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31922, 25 February 1969, Page 20

COMPANY’S MEAT EXPORT PLANS

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, February 24. The granting of a licence to process meat for export to the Timaru Fishing Company, Ltd, meant that, subject to satisfactory supply and contract arrangements being made with the Primary Producers’ Corporative Society of Dunedin, 100,000 carcases of lamb a year would be processed for the Japanese market, said the company’s general manager (Mr R. S. Morris).

This was in line with the current policy of the Meat Board, which had recommended that 13} per cent of this year’s lamb production should be diversified to markets other than the United Kingdom, said Mr Morris. Negotiations to obtain a licence for the company have been under way since October 1, 1967 It is hoped to start production by April 1, The entire first floor of the company’s factory on the waterfront will be used for the new trade.

market No great capital expenditure is envisaged in so far as export meat processing is concerned. The fishing industry is already controlled for export purposes by the Meat Act.

"Because the processing of fish and meat are closely allied, this new trade will provide a satisfactory and complementary addition to our industry,” said Mr Morris.

the addition of meat processing to the present crayfishing and trawling operations (the company has a crayfish factory at the Chatham Islands) is expected to reuslt in a much more stable labour position, as well as providing a better balanced economy.

The timaru Fishing Company. which was established in 1958, was recapitalised with a nominal capital of $200,000 in May, 1964, to become one of the largest public companies engaged in the fishing industry in the South Island.

The latest venture is part of the company's “success story.” Equipped with the most modern and efficient fish processing plant in New Zealand, the company has dei voted much research into improving the quality and packaging for export. This has been done mainly to cater for the Australian