HANDLING OF MEAT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29516, 18 May 1961, Page 11

HANDLING OF MEAT

Future Trends Discussed

Future trends in the handling and transport of New Zealand’s meat products were discussed by Mr N. H. Law, director of the Meat Industry Research Institute, Hamilton, at the Lincoln College farmers’ conference yesterday.

‘‘lt is hoped over the ensuing years that much of the back-breaking effort will be taken out of loading at the wharves,” said Mr Law. “This can be achieved by more extensive mechanisation. Quicker handling, particularly under summer conditions, will benefit all our produ"ts. The practicability of buffer stores at ports with some form of mechanical loading as practised in the worked out well. It is true looked. In practice it has powked out well. It is true such ideas conflict with our present set-up at ports, but as an investment for the future it certainly is worth considering. “It is interesting to learn that there is a renewed interest in palletisation. It has been employed for loading fruit for many years and could be equally applicable to loading cartoned meat. Experiments have recently been undertaken demonstrating that palletisation of lamb carcases is practicable. The system of chutes and slings in these modern days is rather antiquated and the time is near when there should be a more enlightened approach made.” Of meat transport by air, Mr Law said that the practicability of this lay in the field of economics. “However it would be remiss of me not to warn the industry that if an experimental flight should ever be made it is of the utmost importance that the consignment be given the best technical coverage. The success of the chilled beef trade was largely because earlier shipments were given the full technical treatment. We cannot afford to have the first experimental shipment by air a failure. The prejudice created by a mistake in the earlier days of a new venture takes years to overcome.”