Optimism about meat prospects

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32604, 12 May 1971, Page 18

Optimism about meat prospects

The New Zealand meat industry had nothing to fear in the possibility of Britain entering the European Common Market, said the chairman of the board of Thomas Borthwick and Sons, Ltd (Mr A. M. Borthwick) in Christchurch yesterday.

He said beef was a world wide commodity and he was very optimistic about its long-term prospects, and he did not think the E.E.C. countries would seek any restraint on New Zealand sheepmeats—if only because they did not produce anv themselves. Mr Borthwick said he did not believe Britain would enter the Common Market—mainly because a growing number of Conservatives were passionately against such a move and also be cause, from Labour’s point ot view, the opportunity of un seating the Government would be very strong if it came to a vote on the issue in the House of Commons.

There were good arguments for and against Britain joining the Common Market and the one which could be proved without any shadow of doubt, as far as the man in the street was concerned, was that the cost of living in Britain would increase, perhaps significantly, should Britain join. On the subject of the best long-term prospects for New Zealand’s meat, Mr Borthwick picked Japan, where only recently his firm had opened an office. “Japan will be one of the major outlets of the future for New Zealand and Australia. Today the average Jap anese eats so little meat that the scope is enormous. Our

chilled beef could provide them with an alternative to their own.” MORE DIFFICULT

However, lamb would be more difficult to market there and it would take quite a long time before Japan could be encouraged to take significant quantities, he said. Asked what long-term prospects New Zealand could nope for on the United States market, where beef was preferred, Mr Borthwick said it was his impression that still more beef would be consumed there. It was difficult

to get people to change their eating habits, and the fact had to be faced that lamb was not particularly popular in America. Last year Mr Borthwick expressed optimism about an improvement of meat sales to Russia and East European countries, and his optimism seems to have been borne out.

In the 1970-71 season New Zealand has sold 6700 tons of beef to Russia, of which his company provided half the consignment, and 14,500 tons of mutton, of which his company provided a third.

Mr Borthwick Mid these : orders looked like becoming i annual ones. The main reason for his present visit to New Zealand : was to visit his company's 1 works at Waitara, Feilding, 1 Waingawa and Belfast. IMPROVEMENTS : Last year Borthwicks announced it would spend ssm ' on improving its facilities in 1 New Zealand over the next ! three years. Yesterday Mr ' Borthwick said expenditure ' showed signs of diminishing. 1 Over the next three yean his . company will spend a further sljm, over and above this . capital expenditure, on the . provision of extra facilities needed to conform with ' E.E.C. and U.S. hygiene regulations. This "obligatory expenditure” he expects to be recovered by increasing the treatment rate at the works. Asked what he thought of the industrial scene at freezing works, Mr Borthwick said there was less unrest this year than last and he was hopeful of a continued improvement One thing which had impressed him on the tour of his company’s works in Ausi tralia was the number of women employed in packagI ing, trimming and inspecting. "This might be something ' the industry could well look [ into here. Having women : at the works does seem to lessen industrial trouble as well as make the atmosphere ' in the works more attractive," . he said.

Today Mr Borthwick will leave for the North Island.