Better Hygiene Urged

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30976, 4 February 1966, Page 3

Better Hygiene Urged

(N.Z. Press Association)

HAMILTON, Feb. 3. The dairy industry in New Zealand could well pay more attention to the standard of hygiene among staff in dairy factories, according to a party of Japanese trade union officials. The party of four officials has just completed a five-

day tour of dairy factories and farms in the Waikato.

The men are, Hajima Saito, aged 25, chief engineer of the manufacturing department of one of Japan’s largest milk product companies. Yutaka Kimura, aged 36, vicechairman of the central executive committee of the Milk Products Company Labour Union, Hazime Shimizu, aged 35, an executive of the Japanese Federation of Foods and Workers’ Union, and Shinichiro Arafci, aged 31, general secretary of the AU Morinaga Labour Union. Although the officials were “quite satisfied” with the genera] standard of cleanliness on farm and factory, they feel factory workers’ uniforms are not up to the Japanese standard.

“In Japan our dairy workers have gloves, mask and hat.”

They feel, however, this will not prejudice trade of dairy produce between the two countries, but it is a point that could well be noted.

The delegates were impressed with the standard of hygiene they saw in farm milk sheds and believe the dairy industry in New Zealand is extremely well organised.

Asked about the possibility of increasing tirade, the officials said Japan’s dairy industry was on a much smaller scale and so it was more costly to produce milk. “If the price is right for the New Zealand product we feel our country could buy more of your produce,” they said.