Random reminder

Press, 24 February 1978, Page 17

Random reminder

PUTTING N.Z. ON ITS FEET

A recent news item told us of the complaint of some young New Zealand chefs who competed in an international cooking competition, and who complained of the quality of the New Zealand lamb supplied to them, with which, however, one of them managed to cook the winning entry. “You could’ tell it was going to be a piece of boot' leather even before you cooked it,” said one of the chefs. This remark is of course somewhat ambiguous, suggesting that the chef in question, having been supplied by mistake with boot leather instead of lamb, perversely decided to cook it anyway, in order to make his point about the quality of his country’s product. But we will assume for the purposes of the present

discussion that the substance in question was in fact, lamb, albeit lamb p os s e s s i n g , metaphorically at any rate, the qualities of boot leather. Well now, this is surely no cause for criticism or despair. Instead, does it not present the nation’s meat exporters with a magnificent challenge and opportunity? After all, we are having an increasingly difficult job getting our lamb onto the British market at ail. But that is because we market it as lamb. We cannot believe that the quotas are anything like as rigid in respect of boot leather. We can probably send Britain all the boot leather we feel like. And even if there is some restriction, even on boot leather, we could still send great quantities of

lamb te Britain, getting some in as lamb and some in as boot leather. Obviously our shoe manufacturers and agricultural colleges will have to combine to make experimental shoes, before we go into the thing in a big way. It may be, for example, that New Zealand lamb may be more suitable for soles than for uppers. Or, of course, the other way around. But would it not be a splendid thing if these courageous young cooks had unwittingly found a way out of the export crisis which confronts us? And would not every New Zealand heart beat a little more proudly as he thought of thousands of British feet shod in New Zealand lamb? Too right.

HOSPITAI VIMTING ’ HOURS Burwood: Gene'al wards. 3.15-7.30 p.m Maternity, 3-4 p.m. and 8-8.30 p.m. Calvary: II a.m • noon. 3 -» p.m., and 7 « p.m Christchurch Hospital.' 2 304.30 p.m and ti..'{U-7.'sti pm Christchurch Women's: Maternity. 3-4 p.m and 8-8.30 p.m G'naecoiogy, 2.30-4.30 p.m and 6.30-7 30 p.m. Princess Margaret: 2.304.30 p.m and 6.30 7.30 pm. St George’s: 3 pm.-4 p.m. and 7 p.m. 8 p.m Maternity, 2.30 p.m.-3.30 p m. LEISURP Swimming pools: Centennial, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Queen Elizabeth II Park. 7 a.m. to 8.30 p.m V'altham, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jellie Park, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m Sockbum Park and Halswell Swimming Centre. '•> a.m. to 5.30 p.m., 7 p.m to 8 p.m. Wharenui, 10 a.m to 12 noon. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Canterbun Museum: 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Art Galleries; Robert McDougall. 10 a.m to 4 io pm. C.S.A. 10 a.m to 430 p.m. Brooke/Gifford. 10.30 a.m to 8 p.m. Public Library: Lending and reading, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Newspaper room. 9 a.m to 9 p.m. Children’s libran 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wildlife Parks o-a a, 10 am. to 5 p.m Willowbank. 10 am. to 5.30 pm SERVICES Emergency doctor: If you cannot contact vour doctor, or a doctor in vour area, telephone 69-133 tor information. Urgent pharmacy (15 Regent Street): 9.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Citizen’s Advice Bureau: Telephone 68-413 or 66-490 REFUSE PUS Bexley: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Heathcote: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Waimairi: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, Paparua: 8 a.m. to noon. 12.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.