POOR MEAT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 273, 12 August 1920, Page 6

POOR MEAT

DETERIORATION IN STORES

THE TROUBLE IN BRITAIN

A matter of very great interest to the producers was mentioned in tho House by Dr. Newman (Wellington East). "A well-known New Zealander now in London says in a letter that the butchers' 6hops in Manchester are closing becauso the meat they are supplied with by the Fcod Controller is so bad as to be unsuitable for sale," said Dr. Newman. "Has the Prime Minister 'any information as to whether New Zealand meat is included in these supplies, and whether there is very much New Zealand meat in store in London that has deteriorated? Is there a large quantity of inforior meat to bo cleared out before tho now meat can roach the London market?"

The Prime Minister said he believed it was a fact that considerable quantities of New Zealand i meat landed in Britain were in a. condition that was not quite up to the mark. Very great care was taken at this end to seo that only meat of first-class quality was placed on the ships, but some of the meat'suffered afterwards. Ho was strongly of opinion that part of the damage was occasioned after the meat had reached the storw in London or other British centres. I don't think that thero is any need for alarm," added Mr. Massey. 'Wo all know that meat is not so gcod after being two years in store as when it was first placed there. I think that considering all the difficulties, our meat has kept wonderfully well. I have no official information on the question raised by the honourable member. Tf anything were seriou'lv wrong I think I would have heard from the High Commissioner." Dr. Newman asked if the trouble would interfere much with the sale cf New Zealand meat killed in the coming season and distributed next year in Britain. Mr. Massey: I don't think what has happened will affect the Kile of New Zealand meat. The people in the, meat trade in England are very good judges of meat, and. when a good article comes along they know it, and are quite prepared to. take responsibility as far as their customers are. concerned. Mr. Lysnar (Gisborno) suggested that the real cause of deterioration was to be found in the fact that the; freezing ptorea in Britain did not maintain as low a temperature as was customary in New Zealand. The point was worth wq The Prime Minister said that, lie would make inquiries through the High Commissioner.

IDLE RUMOUR MINISTER DENIES A REPORT.. A rumour that the- New Zealand Goveminent luul a controlling intorost in the "Samoan Times," a newspaper published in Apia, was mentioned in the House of Representatives by Mr. M'Combs (Lyttclton). "In view of the ftsj that, tho Government has purchased a controlling interest in the 'Samoan Times/" said Mr. M'Combs, "is it the intention of the' Government to use public funds to purchase controlling interests in New Zealand, newspapers likely to criticise the Government, and stifle hostile criticism of' a Government representing n, minority of the people of New Zealand?" ' , ~ , The Minister of Internal -Affairs (Mr. Lee): The honourable gentleman suggests by Ins question that tho Government hue an interest in the Samoan newspaper. Is that eo?_ Mr. M'Combs: That is so. It is a statement made by a man in Samoa. Mr. I,eQ; The. statement is contrary to fact. The Government is not interested directly or indirectly in a Samoan newspaper. . , , [An authority, referring to the above, says: Mr. M'Combs perhaps did not know that there is a precedent'for such a course as he believed the Government had taken. When the Powers sent down Baron SeniTt von Pilsach to Samoa thirty years ago as president of the Apia Municipal Council, one of his first acts, ta stop the hostile criticism of this same paper, the "Samoan Times," was to invest JCCSO of the council's monov m purchasing the paper. Tho Baron is now a prominent Junker'in East Prussia.]

PRIVATE WIRELESS

NEW LEGISLATION COMING.

A statement of the intentions of the Postal Department regarding tho licensing of experimenal or other wireless plants was litado by tho Postmaster-General (iijr. Coutes) hi the House yesterday in reply to a question. , Sir. Coates said;-It is proposed this session to iutroduco legislation which will give to tho Minister of Telographs the necessary power to license and. suitably regulato tho operation of wireless BWltons of all kinds. At present the Act provides for licensing ship stations only. It will not bo possible to nse tho power indiscriminately, as under the International Radiotclegraphic Convention, to which New Zealand subscribes, the Minister is charged with the responsibility of maintaining wireless com--munication with, ships at sea, and particularly of providing, with tho maximum degree of certainty, for tho reception of distress-signals from ships that may be in need of assistance. In order to efficiently discharge these responsibilities it will lie neccssary to preventas is now being done in the United Kingdom and other countries—tho promiscuous propagation of wireless signals capablo of interfering with legitimate traffic. Consistently with tho faithful discharge of these duties it is desired to encourage bona-fide research in this brancti of electrical engineering by recognised educational bodies such as universities and colleges, find, also by individuals who may bo trusted to preserve tho secrecy of public wiTolees teleprams and who are sufficiently skilled tviul educated in the subject to justify such latitude. When the legislation referred to is enacted, suitable regulations and conditions will lie drafted to provide, as far as 19 practicable, against inter-, ferenco with publio wireless traffic and with distress-signals.

GRANTS TO SCHOOL COMMITTEES A statement about allowances to school committees was made by the Minister of Education in reply to a question. Mr. Parr said: "Grants to education boards for school committees' allowances have been increased by over GO per cent, during tho war, and a sum has been placed 011 tho Estimates to provide a further increase this year. In 1914 a capitation allowance of ss. Cd. was set aside for committees, whereas the allowances paid at present are equal to a capitation of 95., and the additions now proposed will make the total grants for all tho schools equal to a capitation of about Ids. 3d. There must be some limit to expenditure on these purposes, and tho provision now being made shopld be found sufficient for all reasonable requirements. Inquiry shows that the profcent. position of the funds of some ->f tho committees is duo largely to expenditure that was _ never contemplated— e.g., in one district the annual expenditure on school stationery in the largest schools is- under £lU,"Therefi»,jn 'another district tho average expenditure 011 (his purpose in tho 6ame grade of school# is Ml. Again, some committees pay considerable sums to a secretary for services that are usually performed gratuitously by n committeeman. 7f unnecessary expenditure of this kind is eliminated the allowitnco now proposed should be found arnpl# for essential purposes.

HAWKE'S BAY RIVERS When the Hawke's Buy Eivors Amendment Act of last session was published in tho Statute Book it was found to contain a provision that loans for flood pretention works might bo raised by special ordor. As passed 'by Parliament the ineasuro actually provided that a poll should bo taken, and the substitution of the provision mentioned above was duo to error. Sir Francis Bell yesterday gave notice in tho Council of a Bill which it is understood will rectify tho error, and he will also propose minor amendments to the Aot.