FROZEN MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 275, 26 November 1897, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCE.

The Agent-General, summarising the result of his inquiries into the frozen meat trade, classifies the main desiderata as follows:—(1.) That the quality should-be rigorously preserved. (2.) That it should be advertised widely and perseveringly amongst the English middle classes. (3.) That efforts should be made by which the wholesale dealers should supply New Zealand meat to the retail butchers, who will agree to buy no other foreign meat. (4.) That all foreign meat should be marked, not only as foreign, but with the country of its origin. Mr Reeves also makes reference to storage accommodation. It is not what it should be. There is positive difficulty in getting room for arriving cargoes. The quality of stores is uneven. Also the slow discharging and handling of the carcases in the docks are complained of, all of which point to the advantages of having a large central storage shed. The Docks Committee is willing to find £40,000 to put this up. The site could hardly be bettered, but a guarantee of £7,000 is required. There is reason to believe the shipping companies would find a third of this if the Government and the producers guaranteed the rest. By its adoption many days' delay and much damage would be saved. The sending Home of inferior brands of butter and cheese is strongly condemned. Mr Cameron, the Government expert, recommends the establishment of shops in the North of England and the Midlands for the sale of New Zealand meat only. Mr Reeves' comment on this is, "Who is to find the capital and the organising ability ?"