CANNED GOODS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 288, 6 December 1933, Page 6

CANNED GOODS

UNEXPLOITED INDUSTRY? development league views. The suggestion that more attention could be paid in the .Dominion to the canning of produce lor export was made by members of the Wanganui and District Development League at its monthly meeting last evening, it was considered that there were markets m the Eastern and tropical countries for all classes of canned and tinned goods. It was also suggested that there might bc an opening for sugar beet in New Zealand. “The meat canning industry appears to be dying out in New Zealand,” said Air. G. H. Pownall, who re-called that Wanganui had been the first place in the Dominion to establish a meat canning industry in the early eighties, and that large quantities of canned meat had been exported to India. He contended that au enormous number of sheep tongues used to bc canned at Wanganui, and it appeared that there was still an opening for canning. “I don’t think that we, as a colony, arc making the effort we should with our canned goods,” remarked Air. T. Howie. “Not only meat, but everything else could be canned. There is a big market for it in tropical countries.” He considered that much more use than at present could bc made of

cows that were too aged to milk. Last year, be said, he had sold 19 cows at 8s 6<J each and nine at 10s each. They had been good healthy animals, and they could have been put in tins and sent away. There was a market for bulls also, and bulls’ meat had been in much demand during the war. Air. D. Dustin, chairman, also considered that the Eastern and tropical markets had been neglected by the Dominion. He said that a prominent gentleman had told him that New Zealand was relying on stereotyper methods of marketing its produce, and was not socking fresh outlets.

Air. Pownall remarked that thou sands of cases of canned beef were imported by Shanghai each year.

Air. Howie remarked that if the matter could be got under weigh and made a success, it would not be long before it would be taken up by the shipping companies. Air. J. Cameron referred to the production of sugar beet, and claimed that the climate of New Zealand would be very suitable for its production. He said that in the Old Country 300,000 acres were devoted to its production.

Mr. W. R. McElwain recalled that both questions had been gone into some four or five years ago, and that they had boon handled by a Primary Industries Encouragement Committee. He thought that a Parliamentary Committee might be approached. It was agreed that the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce should be written to asking for a list of its imports, and that Air. Dustin should wait on the chairman of the Abattoir Committee at Castlpcliff with regard to the canning of moat.