Long talks for China deal

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 30

Long talks for China deal

The deal which saw about 1660 Corriedale hoggets and rams fly from Christchurch to China as breeding stock last week came after several years of negotiations and personal contact on behalf of top executives of Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd. Rigid health protocols had to be followed and an element of trust estab-

lished before the deal could go ahead. The company has had an association with Chinese officials since 1970 and had sent smaller shipments of sheep. Continued personal contact and regular visits to China by P.G.G. directors, as well as visits to New Zealand by Chinese delegations,

helped pave the way for the latest shipment. The company’s ability to meet all the requirements of a shipment of 400 Holstein Frieslans in December, 1985, provided the basis of trust needed for the export of the sheep. The shipment was one of the largest number of sheep to be airlifted out of New Zealand, and the first to China in 10 years. The deal was signed by Mr John Paterson, a company director, and Mr David Cassells, a director and stud and bloodstock manager, in Beijing in April. The sheep came from North Otago and Canterbury and were selected by Mr Cassells and Chinese husbandry experts. A long, involved series of tests followed which lasted about 60 days. They were, conducted under the supervision of representa-. tives of the Chinese veterinary authorities. The sheep were quarantined for 30 days. They were packed in specially prepared pens, capable of withstanding G forces and other rigors of air travel, and flown on board a Flying Tigers Boeing 747. The international stock freight company has been

associated with . China since World War II and is the only company allowed to fly stock into China. From Christchurch the sheep flew to Guam, Beijing, and finally Harbin in the north of China, a trip expected to take about 24 hours. Once there, the sheep began another spell in quarantine, this time for 45 days, before being sent by rail to Guizhou province in the south. They were landed in Hatbin because of its quarantine facilities. Guizhou is an area of easy bill country and is extensively grazed. It is being subdivided and developed under a five-year plan aimed at making better use of the underutilised land. New Zealand is already associated with the lowincome province through a pasture seed production programme there. The Prime Minister, Mr David Lange, visited the area last year and it is thought New Zealand might develop a more formal relationship with the province. Corriedales were chosen by the Chinese for several reasons. In 1940, 4000 Corriedales left Lyttelton by sea for China. The shipment was arranged by expatriate New Zealander, Mr Rewi Alley,

but because of war did not reach China for .more than two years. Corriedales are also attractive because they are a wool and meat-bred animal.: ‘ • “If China had its way it would/ import as many Merinos as it could get its hands on because of the fine wool,” said Mr Cas- - sells. “Corriedales are one of the next finest wool breeds.”, ,/ ' Although • China has been allowed to import some Merinos from Australia, Corriedales \ are more accessible. The demand for breeding stock had been increasing from developing countries. “First they want milk producing animals, then it is livestock that can produce'meat'and clothing materials,” said Mr Cassells. He did not see any problem in exporting New Zealand’s “lifeblood” and creating possible competition in the future. “We are selling our good surplus livestock. We have been doing it since 1910 and it hasn't hurt us yet. “The lifeblood we need most is foreign exchange coming in. If we don’t supply them, someone else will,” he said.