New board member

Press, 3 December 1982, Page 20

New board member

Sir Charles Hilgendorf, the former chairman of the Meat Board, has joined the directors of Canterbury Venison (NZ) Ltd. Sir Charles’ appointment was announced last week during the opening function for the company’s venison and lamb processing plant by the company’s chairman, Mr J. E. Austin. More than 200 shareholders, guests and staff, tolerated hot gusting north-west winds that threatened to make airborne a big marquee which was used for refreshments after addresses

from Mr Austin, the firm’s managing director, Mr G. R. Thompson, and the Associate Minister of Finance, Mr Falloon. Sir Charles’ knowledge and expertise would be of immense value to the company, Mr Austin said. Canterbury Venison had 192 shareholders and 70 per cent of the shares were held by farmers, he said. The rest was held by stock and station firms and others. He paid tribute to the contractors who had been involved in the about S2M project, which was completed one month before schedule. He also thanked a local businessman, Mr Bob Burnett, who had made the venture possible in Mid-Canter-bury.

The company had a long search for a suitable site without success but according to Mr Austin last Thursday, Mr Burnett had finally provided the land — not because he had wanted to

sell land but because he had the interest of'the community in mind. The factory would provide up to 40 jobs, said Mr Austin. The slaughtering and processing of deer is expected to begin later this year at the factory, which also has lOha of holding paddocks. Frozen lamb carcases are drawn from freezing works for cutting and wrapping and the processing of those by the present production staff of 30 began last week. Licensing requirements demand that the lamb and venison departments are separate. Lamb processing will be year-round while about eight of the staff will shift to venison as required. The plant has a capacity to handle 150 head of deer a day and 2000 lamb carcases. According to Mr Thompson, lamb carcase cutting by the new staff, none of whom were experienced and had had to be trained, had reached 1000 a day during the first week.