More meat ships planned

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 2

More meat ships planned

PA Wellington The Meat Board plans to bring. in two extra ships to ease the pressure on meat storage space. Freezing companies last week warned that some works may have to close or reduce killing because of a huge build-up of meat. The problem results from delays in securing this year’s lamb sales to Iran, a late lamb kill, and slow overseas sales of mutton.

The Meat Board said yesterday that an extra two conventional, non.-container ships would be brought in to take meat to the United Kingdom. The Khalij Crystal would load at Picton and Lyttelton this week and the M’atangi would load at Timaru and Bluff next week. This brings the number of conventional ships being used this year to seven, in addition to the 17 container vessels on the European run.

Last year only two conventional ships were needed. The ships will carry about 8000 tonnes of mutton, offal, and lamb, a spokesman said. ■ “Works may have to reduce killing slightly, but after the ships have called they should be able to go back to normal,” he said. The South Island was the main problem area, although storage might- be getting tight in some North Island areas.