NEW ZEALAND LAMB.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 10 August 1932, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND LAMB.

DAMAGING PROPAGANDA. ;; COMPETITION WITH HOMEKILLED. iMtOM OUH OIW COBBSSFOXDSXI.) { LONDON, July 8. i It is perhaps only natural that the growing popularity of New Zealand lamb should cause those interested in home-killed meat to make damaging statements regarding the imported produce. A rather serious case of this kind appeared in the columns of the "Western Morning News." Over the signature of "Observer" is ! the following letter: Sir, —The disease known as caseous lvmphadenitis is one peculiar to sheep, and is a world-wide trouble, being prevalent in South America, Australia, and New Zealand. The producer of meat in tlus country is placed in a position in which he has to submit to grave injustico, particularly when it is remembered that a good deal of imported meat is passed off as home produce. He has to face competition from this cheaply-produced mutton, which he now learns is often diseased, while he himself has to eontend with a net of regulations which have rightly been imposed to protect the consumer. Hundreds of thousands of mutton and lamb carcases are imported into this country annually, most of which is consumed in our largo towns. A large proportion of this meat is styled "Canterbury" lamb. Imported meat is cheaper than home-produced produce. It is of much lower food value than iome-fed, and its flavour is very poor. The gravy produced from it has a small vitamin content, and is almost valueless. Tho liking for it is chiefly because of its tenderness. A dog if put into, cold storage for six months would also become ?' tender," and might be of as much value as some importod carcases. ■"* It is difficult to understand why pcoplo in this enlightened age in Cornwall will eat imported meat, when there is a plentiful supply of first-class quality beef produced in our midst. Mr Forsyth's Reply. As soon as this strange letter came to tho attention of Mr R> 6.- Forsyth (New Zealand Meat Boar'd) ho addressed a letter to the Editor of tho "Western Morning News," as follows: Dear Sir, —My attention has been drawn to a letter in your correspondence columns of May 19th, signed "Observer," concerning the disease known as Caseous Lymphadenitis in sheep. - Your correspondent seems to bo under - the entirely wrong impression that this. > disease is "prevalent" in New Zealand, whereas tho true facts are that tho actual sheep affected are negligible. Furthermore, tho very strict veterinary inspections both in New Zealand and Great Britain make it virtually impossible for a carcase so diseased to reach tho consuming public. Your cor- - respondent is probably unaware that 3 the veterinary inspection in New Zealand is vastly superior and more thorough than that of his own country. Every New Zealand carcase is inspected by qualified veterinary inspectors uppointed by tho New Zealand Government and must bear his signed certificate that tho carcase is free' from all 1 disease before it canbe passed for cx- • port. This is much moro stringent than the veterinary inspection in Great Britain, where any butcher may obtain a slaughtering license under certain conditions, and is not required to submit ' every carcase for veterinary inspection either ante or post-mortem. Quite apart ' from the strict veterinary inspection there is no country in the world so free from stock diseases- as New Zealand. Eor instance, foot-and-mouth \ disease has never been known in New Zealand.

Your correspondent is unfortunate in raising the point of comparative food valuo and vitamin content. A little intelligent enquiry would enlighten him that New Zealand is able to keep its flocks in the open pastures all the year round, and with its wonderful climato and great record of sunshine (which after all is the creator of vitamin) New Zealand meat has no superior in cither food value or vitamin content. To put the whole matter raoro forcibly, the remarks of your correspondent re "food values" and "vitamin con- ' tent", pr6ve conclusively he has. ho knowledge of his. subject,.for, the reason that scientists in .Great Britain by actual analysis have demonstrated that the food valuo of New Zealand lamb and mutton is fully equal, if, indeed, not superior, to home-killed moat. Your correspondent should know that freezing—in itself—in no way deteriorates the carcase, but rather conservos the natural - - .-•-. That is the answer to tho query of "Observer" as to Vhy"enlightened poople in Cornwall prefer New Zealand lamb and mutton." As, however, his letter may possibly do some harm to the high reputation of New Zealand meat, I trust that you will give this reply tho same publication as his letter., Revised Edition. It is amusing to notico how tho editor of the "Western Mornings News" dealt with this strong letter before sending it to the printer. This is how it appeared. "Observer" should know that tho strict veterinary inspections, both in Now Zealand and Great Britain, make it virtually impossible for a carcase with the caseous lymphadenitis disease to reach tho consuming public. Every New Zealand carcase is inspected by qualified veterinary inspectors appointed by the New Zealand Government, and must bear his signed 1 certificate that tho carcase is free from all disease before it can be passed for export. No country in tho world is so free from stock disease as New Zealand. For instance, foot-and-mouth disease has never been known in New Zealand. New.Zealand is able to keep its flocks in the open pastures all the year round, and with its wonderful climate and great record of sunshine New Zealand ! meat has no superior in either _ food value or vitamin content. Freezing in no way deteriorates the carcase but rather conserves the natural qualities. As, however, his letter may possibly do some harm to/the high reputation of New Zealand meat, I trust that you will give this reply tho same publication as his letter. Watery Lamb, Another case af trado jealousy occurred at Edinburgh. In the main street there is a very fine butcher's shop, the proprietor of which has been selling Now Zealand lamb at a good profit for very many years. New Zealand lamb has become more popular in the Scottish capital, and the present low prices have enabled tho competitors of the above-mentioned butcher to provide ;£hcir customers with very cheap meat. The disgruntled butcher therefore inserted in a local paper a largo advertisement in which was the following paragraph': "Special—Why buy Canterbury Lamb, a large proportion of which is water, when good, solid, Scotch lamb i»-eo cheap?" ■ . - : has written to -.the offeiider stating, thing*, th*t

he can produce an analyst's report showing that New Zealand lamb contains 3 per cent, less water than English lamb. He asked that the butcher in question should tako steps to correct Ms misleading statement. The latter has not so far taken such steps, and Mr Forsyth will probably have to insert an advertisement in the same newspaper calling the attention of the public to tho mis-statemenj.