Warning on meat industry

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 27

Warning on meat industry

PA Invercargill If people in the meat industry resist change they will have to “endure brutal restructuring” later, the Meat Board’s deputy chairman, Mr N. D. Mcßae, has warned in a speech to the Southland meat and wool section of Federated Farmesr. In processing, he said, the board was looking at savings of up to $4 a lamb in the next two seasons. “It is clear that running on average seven hours a day for 33 weeks a year is poor use of expensive assets,” Mr Mcßae said. Options requiring consideration and some action included a six or seven day week (Not on overtime rates), twilight shifts, double shifts for cutting and boning, mechanical deboning and eventually double shifts on the chains. “Given the decline in stock numbers, all these options will involve the closing of some works.

“But the choices are clear. Either we meet the challenges provided by the super-efficient meat industry by becoming more efficient, or we resist change and endure unplanned brutal restructuring later on,” Mr Mcßae said.