MEAT BOARD’S WORK

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 147, 17 March 1933, Page 12

MEAT BOARD’S WORK

Reply to Recent Criticism Regarding Inactivity

DETAILS OF EXPERIMENT Dominion Special Service. Masterton, March 16. Some criticism of the alleged inactivity of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board in experimental matters was expressed at the last meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union. The executive at its meeting to-day had before it a reply from the secretary of the board outlining what experimental work had been carried out recently. After referring to the board’s co-operation with the firm of T. Borthwick and Sons, Ltd., in connection with the recent shipment of chilled beef, the letter proceeded :— “The board has been conducting experiments for some years, particularly relating to the bloom on our lambs, and as a result of representations which the board made to Sir William Hardy, chairman of the Food Investigation Board at Home, arrangements were made for detailed scientific survey of our frozen meat industry .to be carried out. The board contributed £750 toward the cost of these investigations, besides considerable additional expenses connected with the purchase of carcases for the experiments, etc. Coniprehnesive Report. “The Survey Party was headed by Dr. Ezer Griffiths, F.R.S., of the National Physical Laboratory, who has a world-wide reputation. He was accompanied by Dr. Vickery from the Low Temperature Research Station of Cambridge, England, and assistants. The report of this survey, which is the most comprehensive which has ever been carried out in connection with the freezing, storing and transport of our lamb, has since come to hand, and the board has distributed copies to each freezing company throughout the Dominion, and other interested parties. “We are continually in touch with the Cambridge Low Temperature Research Station, and the board keeps itself fully posted on any scientific question which is likely to advance the interests of our frozen meat industry. “The board has. made considerable investigation in the United States of America and elsewhere in connection with the development and possibilities of quick freezing of meat. There are a number of different methods, and we have a mass of information relating to these different processes. Some years ago the board received a small sample shipment from New York and it is continually in touch with the developments taking place. When the chairman of the board was attending the Ottawa Conference recently he took the opportunity of making special inquiries in the States as to the position. Further Cambridge Experiments.

“Last year the board discussed with the Empire Marketing Board at Home the question of conducting commercial experiments in quick freezing and carton meat. As a result a conference was held at which various difficulties were discussed. It was then decided to make further experiments at Cambridge where the necessary facilities exist, and it was also requisite to obtain information as to the temperatures and conditions under which the carton meat should be transported. "In 1930 the board conducted some special experiments in quick freezing at one of the local freezing works. These also included cuts and sundries, and the whole consignment was fully reported upon by the board’s London manager in conjunction with scientists and meat men at Home.”