TOUR BY MEAT EXPERTS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21320, 13 November 1934, Page 12

TOUR BY MEAT EXPERTS

* COMMENT ON INDUSTRY IN DOMINION CRITICISM OF NEW ZEALAND SHOPS U'RSSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, November 12. Three members of the Meat Board of South Australia, Messrs A. S. Kidman, T. H. Phelps, and B. Waterhouse, who arrived in New Zealand last month to inspect meat works and abattoirs and to study meat conditions in the Dominion, have completed their tour and will return to Australia by the Maunganui, sailing to-morrow. They have travelled extensively in the South Island, and have visited Palmerston North, Napier, and other parts of the Hawke's Bay district. The visitors were unfortunate in that the South Island freezing works were not then operating, although those visited in the North Island were open. They said" the works appeared altogether as up-to-date as any in Australia. They were, however, quite unable to understand why so many small towns had their own municipal abattoirs when there were large meat companies operating in the same region. The big works were run under better conditions, and could do the work more efficiently. Small municipal undertakings could not justify the expense of bringing them up-lo-date. It was simply a waste of public money to do so when the work might well be left to private enterprise and undertaken under proper supervision.

The three experts had several criticisms to offer on New Zealand meat and fish shops, which are open on the street. There were some tolerably good shops, they stated, but the great majority fell far short of Australian standards. They admitted flies and dust, and were neither clean nor tidy To expose any foodstuff to the filth and dust oi the street is objectionable and insanitary," said Mr Phelns Mr Kidman had some kind words lor the sheep farmer. "Your lamb-raising country is in marvellous condition," he said "and it is wonderful what, your country j* able to produce." "