MARKING OF MEAT.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20790, 25 February 1933, Page 6

MARKING OF MEAT.

THE NEW ZEALAND CASE. MR FORSYTH'S EVIDENCE. (MOM Otfß OWK COBEESrOHMBT.) LONDON, January 19. Mr K. S. Forsyth, British representative of the New Zealand Meat-Pro-ducers' Board, has been attending the. enquiry into the marking of meat during the past two weeks, and a day or two ago gave evidence throughout the whole day. The matter is a very important one for tli>3 alcw Zealtind producers, and no stone is being left unturned 'to opposo the application. The Moat Board, in injunction witii the Imported Meat Trade Association and the New Zealand and Australian Agents' Association, who represent the importers, have engaged counsel to represent their views. Ihey have received the support of alt the importers and also of the Smiibfield stallholders, and they have supported their views by evidence from important members of the trade as well as by that given by Colonel Dunlop Young, chief veterinary officer of Smithfield Market. Mr Forsyth, in his evidence, explained that New Zealand wanted recognition of her meat at the point of retail sale, but the, present suggestion of printing with ink would disfigure and depreciate their produce, and, therefore, they strongly opposed the application. It came out in cross-examination that the National Fanners' Union and the Ministry of Agriculture had tried five different inks in experiments several months ago on chilled meat. All these inks, they admitted, blurred after defrosting, except the one which is used for marking National Mark beef. In further cross-examination, it transpired that this particular ink was composed of aniline dye, methylated spirits, glycerine, and water.

Mr Forsyth "Horrified." Air Forsyth said he was "horrified" to thin!? that people were asked to eat meat disfigured with a dye mixture of that kind, and he made it quite clear that the New Zealand meat trade would be prejudiced if the meat were marked in that manner. ' According to the Merchandise Marks Act no application may be granted which will prejudice the trade of any of his Majesty's Dominions, and on that ground alone, said Mr Forsyth, New Zealand had confidence in her opposition to the granting of the application. Mr Forsyth also put in as evidence a cablegram ho had received from the New Zealand Meat Board, showing that the marking as suggested would decrease the output by 30 per cent, and increase the present labour cost in the freezing works by 50 per cent. This evidence rather startled the committee, and the statement was subjected to a good deal of cross-examina-tion. Similar information was received, however, from Australia.

A Tests The committee liave visited the Islington cattle market in the presence of interested parties, and the National Meat Mark was placed on two sides of beef, four carcases of mutton, and four carcases of lamb. Half of these are to be chilled and half frozen, and arc to remain in store for the necessary period before being defrosted. The enquiry, will, therefore, be postponed for about thirty days or two months, so that an examination of the branded carcases may be made. Mr Forsyth pointed out that this test would merely be a laboratory test, as the carcases would not be subjected to tho various handling that took place in the ordinary commercial way in undergoing a voyage. The present application is for marking Wat as Empire or the country of origin. If the meat were marked as "Empire" in the retail shops it would tell against the Now Zealand produce, as the latter is obtaining the advantage of splendid advertising, and is sold at from Id to lijd a lb in advance of any other Empire meat.