Industry proposals confused —claim

Press, 23 February 1989, Page 3

Industry proposals confused —claim

Proposals ‘ for changes in the meat industry by an Agricultural consultant, Mr Rowland Woods, have been described as confused and contradictory.

The executive director of the Meat Industry Association, Mr Peter Blomfield, said Mr Woods’ reported comments to the West Auckland Rotary Club, suggesting greater separation between the processing and exporting arms of the industry, contradicted other comments that he would expect to see the emergence of only two or three large, integrated organisations handling the bulk of export meat.

“Like many commentators, Mr Woods wants to tinker with the structure of the industry in an academic sense while ignoring the practicalities involved," said Mr Blomfield.

“Ultimately, commercial realities will dictate the nature of changes in the meat industry. A great deal of thought and energy is being devoted by industry owners and management to all the important issues before the industry. To suggest that instantaneous answers can be found, and change implemented overnight, is to ignore reality.”