KILLING AT FAIRFIELD

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31981, 7 May 1969, Page 16

KILLING AT FAIRFIELD

Million Mark Passed

The Canterbury Frozen Meat Company’s Fairfield works killed its millionth lamb or sheep for the season early yesterday afternoon. The previous record at the works was 974,000, set last season.

Yesterday’s figure was reached with a Romney lamb in a consignment from Mr H. M. Copland, of the Westmere Farming Company, Ltd. Mr Copland was among a gathering of company, meat export industry, and other officials who watched the processing of the lambs through the killing chain. The party included Messrs K. F. S. Cox, general manager of the C.F.M., J. T. Fogarty and D. Morton, assistant managers, 1. E. O. McKellar, an Ashburton director of the company, K. C. Cooper, the Fairfield works manager, J. H. Grigg, a former director, and H. E. Cook president of the Ashburton Stock and Station Agents’ Association. The annual kill has doubled since 1955. Mr Cox said that the kill of one million was achieved with a maximum daily kill of 9000 head. The figure indicated the increased stock numbers in Mid-Canterbury. Great credit for the record output went to freezing workers and works staff, drafters, farmer clients, and stock firms.

Mr Copland assisted Mr W. Kennedy, foreman butcher at the works, in placing a ribbon and rosettes on the carcase.

Mr Copland’s father, the late Mr James Copland, was convener of the local farmers’ committee which proposed the establishment of a freezing works in the Ashburton County. The Fairfield works was opened on March 6, 1899.

The kill at the C.F.M.’s Pareora works exceeded one million for the fifth time on March 31.