VACUUM PACKING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 285, 30 October 1933, Page 2

VACUUM PACKING

OPENING OF FACTORY. MINISTER PERFORMS CEREMONY. The official opening was performed on Saturday afternoon by the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. C. E. ( Macmillan) of the new packing factory which has been erected in Fitzherbert Avenue for Vacuum Products, Ltd. There was a large attendance of interested visitors, including numerous representatives of the dairy industry. Prior to the ceremony, at a light luncheon which was provided, those present were afforded the opportunity of tasting vacuum packed products in the form of butter, meat, cheese, fruit juices, etc. All made an' interested inspection of the factory facilities. Among those present were Dr. C. J. Reakes (Director-General of Agriculture), Dr. E. Marsden (secretary of the Department for Scientific and Industrial Research), Mr AV. M. Singleton (Director of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture), Messrs J. Linklater and J. A. Nash, M.P.’s., Professors G. S. Peren and AV. Riddet. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs C. G. C. Dernier (chairman of directors of the Cheltenham Dairy Company and a member of the New ’Zealand Produce Board), S. A. Broadbelt (chairman of directors of the Levin Dairy Company),- and E. R, B. Holben.

“This function is a very important one to the dairy industry,” stated Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., chairman of directors of the New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union, Ltd., in extending a cordial welcome to all. “I personally came in contact with the vacuum business about two years ago. When I saw the possibilities of exporting butter in pats and delivering it on the market in Britain in the same condition as it is packed in the factory in New Zealand, I then urged my co-directors to take it up which they did. AVe commenced by sending a sample shipment of 44 boxes. This turned out quite satisfactory and within two weeks after arrival we received a cable to forward another shipment. Then for two months we received cables fortnightly increasing the size of the order on each occasion. Finally we received a standing order of a stated number of boxes per week. To give you an idea of the value of this system I might mention that we have averaged over 10s per cwt. premium on each shipment. “The erection of this factory has involved a good deal of money as far as our dairy company is concerned and in this connection our suppliers are assisting in the finance. Our business has increased considerably. Last year we had an output of 870 tons, but this year we have an increase of i6OO cows, so that we anticipate a much larger output. Additions are being made to our factory, and will be used principally for patting and packing.” Apologising for the unavoidable absence of Mr A. Young, chairman of directors of Abacuum Products, Ltd., Mr Nash stated that the company was well represented by Messrs AV. A. Chote, T. AVinks and F. Knuckey. “I cannot let this occasion pass,” he added, “without making some reference to 'Mr Thos. Reynolds, the man-aging-director. He had been actively engaged in connection with the company’s business for the past six years. He lias worked early a.nd late with a firm conviction that vacuum packing of butter, cheese, meats, fruit juices and, in fact, almost everything, would become a boon to New Zealand and I think lie has proved it. Mr Reynolds is a very able business man and knows his job. There is every possibility that he will leave for England very soon to further the business. “AA 7 e feel that big things will happen as far as butter and cheese are concerned, and that people will be startled by the results achieved. I sincerely hope that the time is not far distant when all the dairy factories will be participating.” He added that it was a red-letter day for the New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union, the parent company in the Manawatu. CONGRATULATIONS EXTENDED The Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford congratulated the directors of the Dairy Union on their foresight and confidence in inducing the erection of the new factory in Palmerston North, an ideal distributing centre. The vacuum procgss was going "to mean thousands of additional pounds to the farmers. He understood that the erection of twelve similar factories throughout New Zealand wa.s contemplated. It might be a factor having as great an importance to production as refrigeration when that was produced. The export of butter was over 2.000,000 cwt. and of cheese over 1,600,000 cwt., and even a small premium meant an immense additional amount. The Mayor wished the company every success in the future. Mr Chote stated that the vacuum products sent overseas had realised 5s a cwt. more than the Danish, and he stressed the importance of the development of the process. Mr Linklater joined in the expressions of congratulation and said another important step was being taken in the marketing of produce. Very good accounts had been received of the process, from which suppliers should reap great benefits. He paid a tribute to those responsible for its development. He was quite satisfied that it was going to be a great thing for the dairy industry, and he would give every assistance to its progress. Dr C. J. Reakes said that for some years he had been watching the progress of the vacuum process, which had shown a very promising beginning that it might afford a further instance of development. All hoped it would advance until a large portion of the output of butter and other produce would be handled under the process. The question of cost appeared to have been met satisfactorily so far. It seemed that vacuum packed butter and meats could be landed in Eastern countries in a condition particularly attractive to consumers. Those possibilities were realised and he hoped to see them exploited in due course. He congratulated both the Dairy Union and Vacuum Products, Ltd. oil their enterprise. Mr Singleton added his tribute, and said there had been remarkably swift strides of progress in the packing of foodstuffs in recent years. It had to be recognised that people interested in food products in the United Kingdom were making big developments. It was a time of change and Vacuum Products, Ltd., were meeting it. Their development was recognised. It had been made possible by scientific progress, was believed to preserve the natural “fresh from the churn” a.roma, and should enlarge market possibilities. “NEAV MARKETING ERA.” “It gives me the greatest pleasure to bo present to-day at what I hope will in the future be regarded as an historic occasion, marking the opening of a new era in the marketing of New Zealand produce overseas,” stated the Minister, who added that it was some fifty years since he had been given a cow or two to see what he could do with them. He did not know that he was exaggerating in saying into what the vacuum process would develop in fifty years’ time. There was always the purchase price for a good article. They were living in days when busi-

ness creeds which had been sworn by for generations were being attacked. “Tlie present generation of New Zealanders regard almost as a matter of course the enormous tra.de which is, being conducted in frozen products from this country, and it comes almost as a shock to reflect that it is only 50 years since the dairy export industry was born,” added the Minister. “Here are the words used by Major Harry Atkinson, the then Colonial Treasurer, in liis Budget speecli of 1883, when the Government first took official notice of a new development in export trade: —

“ ‘Last year there is entered for the first time amongst our exports a new industry which promises to be of the greatest advantage to the community : I refer to the export of frozen meat and dairy produce. This trade, as soon as it can be fully organised, should enable us to bring into profitable cultivation a much larger area of land in proportion to our population than we can use at present for mixed farming.’ “One wonders what Sir Harry would have thought could lie have foreseen that in two generations this application of tlie freezing process would have led to the growth of an export trade amounting annually to 120,000 tons of butter, 100,000 tons of cheese, and 200,000 tons of lamb and mutton. “Upon tlie efficacy of the preservative method applied to this produce depends the material welfare of the people of this country. The freezing process lias rendered yeoman service and probably will long continue to do so, but it now seems to be beyond doubt that it will in the future to some extent at least be superseded by improved processes. lam assured that the vacuum process lias been given a thorough trial and that it has been demonstrated that produce from New Zealand can lie landed in overseas countries with its quality, appearance, and flavour unimpaired. I congratulate the directors and sharei holders upon tlieir enterprise in commercialising this new process, and knowing that tlie success of this venture will ultimately benefit the whole Dominion I wish the company all prosperity.”