Meat packer impressed

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33450, 4 February 1974, Page 3

Meat packer impressed

(xN.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. February 3. New Zealand's capacity to increase livestock and feed - grain production has impressed the head of one of the largest meat-packing and processing companies in the world, who has just returned from New Zealand to the United States. | Mr R. V. Edwards, chairiman and chief executive of- ' ficer of Wilson and Company incorporated, said in Oklahoma City that New Zealand I expansion in both these fields | would provide additional in- ■ come and employment opportunities in both the North and South Islands. The substance of his remarks was conveyed by telex from the parent company to Wilson Meats, Ltd, in Auckland. Mr Edwards, who studied New Zealand agriculture and meat processing during his visit, said increased production would serve as a stimulus to the New Zealand meatpacking and processing industry, which, he believed, had great potential for development. “My company will be pleased to participate in this growth, and expand its pack-

ing and processing operations if conditions warrant,” he said. Mr Edwards noted that world demand for meat protein was substantial and growing. New Zealand, he , said, was already a large exporter of meat, but the world market was far from saturated. There was a crying need for more meat, and New Zealand was ideally equipped to help provide it. New Zealand icould increase cattle, pig, and i poultry production for the exIport market. ; Mr Edwards said his Wellcome in New Zealand had been unsurpassed. He said ■ the country had a great deal Ito offer in geography and climate. “I feel,” he said, “that we are fortunate to be citizens of New Zealand through our ownership of Wilson Meats, Ltd. and R. and F. Wallis, in the South Island. We are very pleased with our investment. We think New Zealand has a great future, and would like to be part of it.” Wilson and Company Incorporated is the third largest meat packer and processor in the United States. It had sales last vear of more than SUS2OOOm. The company activities in New Zealand go back to 1936, when Wilson’s acquired the Orr Meat Company in the North Island and the R. and F. Wallis Company in the South Island. Originally the New Zea-

land companies were subsidiaries of Wilson’s Meat of England, but in 1946 the Newi Zealand companies became! subsidiaries of the parent! company in the United; States.