MEAT FOR BRITAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 100, 29 April 1940, Page 4

MEAT FOR BRITAIN.

EXPORT GRADING STANDARDS. RESPONSIBILITY OF BOARD. Following the sale of the Dominion's meat to the United Kingdom, the duty of supervising the grading of the different classes of meat at the various freezing works is receiving the closest attention of the officers of the Xew Zealand Meat Producers' Board, says a circular from the board. In the negotiations with the United Kingdom, it was specially arranged that a. separate price should be paid for prime Down-cross lambs and a special price was also fixed for prime Canterbury lamb. The general condition of purchase in respect of grading laid down by the contract with the British Ministry of Food ie that the meat is to be of the usual descriptions and grades as at present shipped from Xew Zealand. This, however, has to be qualified as regards the North Island to the extent that the Down-cross lambs will be graded eeparately from the ordinary crossbred type iambs at all worke. An undertaking has been given to the British Government that all carcases graded Down-cross will be of Down type. This should be kept in mind by farmers when considering the grading returns they receive from the works, as only lambs which show characteristics of the Down can be included in this Down-cross grade. As applying to the South Island, it would not be to the advantage of farmers if the Down-cross lambs were specially picked out, as the remaining lambs would have to take a leeeer price than the present price offered for prime Canterbury. Therefore, the prices and grading as arranged for the South Island are to the advantage of the farmer.

In order to conserve space in the freezing stores and in the vessels which are provided for the carriage of meat, the British Government requested that all carcases of mutton and lamb should be telescoped, as was done during the last war. To ewsure 'that all freezing works are cutting and packing the carcases to .1 uniform standard, the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, as a result of a discussion with the Primary Industries Controller, arranged for one of its officers to visit the various works in the Dominion especially to examine the way in which the cutting of carcases was being done.

The Meat Board's supervising grader has now finished his work in this connection, having carried out demonstrations at the works with those concerned. This should result in a uniform pack being shipped from the various freezing works.