CHRISTMAS "CARDS"

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 61, 15 March 1924, Page 17

CHRISTMAS "CARDS"

GIFTS OF NEW ZEALAND LAMB

LETTERS OF APPRECIATION

WHY NOT ALWAYS UP TO

SAMPLE?

(PEOSI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 10th January.

It is very evident that many people in the Dominion availed themselves of the suggestion made by the New Zealand Meat Producers Board that they should send a present of a New Zealand lamb to friends in Great Britain, for Mr. R. S. Forsyth (the London manager) received over one thousand for distribution . before Christmas. The sequel was that a very acceptable season's " card " reached the lucky consignees in time to supplant, where desired, the accustomed dish—roast turkey. This form of present also served the purpose of helping to make more widely known the special qualities possessed by New Zealand lamb. Turkeys, by the way, were not cheap; up to the eve of Christmas the finest birds commanded from 2s 8d to 3s 6d per lb retail.

Preparatory to distribution, Mr. Forsyth had post cards printed, announcing that the- addressee would shortly be receiving a lamb, which had been consigned ■with the best, wishes of So-and-so. The card further stated: "This lamb is of the first quality grade, guaranteed pure and wholesome, produced, killed, frozen, and shipped under the most hygienic conditions, and with, regard to flavour and food properties ranks supreme. I trust you will be pleased with the quality, and will in future always insist upon being supplied with New Zealand lamb, and also recommend same to your friends." TOG FREQUENTLY OF DOUBTFUL ORIGIN. Since Christmas Mr. Forsyth has received hundreds of letters of acknowledgment and appreciation, and there is plenty of evidence that the recipients intend to do their best to promote the sale of New Zeaeland lamb. "If people could depend upon getting the lamb soon after its arrival in this country, there would be a tremendous demand for it. .We are New Zealanders, and naturally like our own country's things, and we have often tried New Zealand lamb, but it was not like* this," writes a recipient in Hampshire. A Kentish writer says, m acknowledgment of her sons present: "The lamb is in perfect condition, and very different *from the so-called New Zealand lamb w e get here. ' A South London resident had no idea how excellent New Zealand lamb could be; "it leaves one wishing that the butchers here would supply the same quality." Again, take the statement of a writer at Bedford Park: "I shall have much' pleasure in giving some of my friends pieces of it to show them what real New Zealand lamb is like, irere is a great deal of meat sold in tins neighbourhood (Chiswick) as New Zealand, which I am sure never came from there. A number of ladies here had decided to. form a society, for the promotion of the sale of British''and ■Uominion products in preference to foreign; so if there is any information you could giTO them about frozen mutton, they would be pleased to have it, sending it. to Mrs. Cartmel-Robinson, the vicar s wife, to the above address." TRIBUTES FROM SCOTLAND. Scottish recipients were among the most complimentary, For instance, one .11 Edinburgh has written: "I think it only right to let you know how really prime your Canterbury lamb is. It arrived here safely on Friday, the 21st I got my butcher to cut it up in ei»ht parts which I divided among my friends, keeping one part for myself We all unanimously agree it's the finest bit ot lamb we have ever eaten, and will name £ eSltate to spread abroad good tt A tribute from Bothwell, Lanarkshire--1 received the Canterbury lamb all wfui°t nth Tc t 21St- .^MgV Phased with it. It was just delicious/and I certainly will recommend it to all mv Prom Buckie: "The two carcasses of prime lamb arrived all sale and m splendid condition. I must say it is most beautiful to eat and I gave some to my friends, and they were highly delighted 'with the taste of it " thfp 111*\ niin Ston: "I have received the Canterbury lamb you sent me, and have had some of it cooked, and would ' VVIX^ l n my °Pini°n it is equal ■L O n S O Ct Ct h ter"CkfaC?d' thMWhich «V a fresh-killed lamb, and seems better S frfend"" 5- X "conunend.it to , From Glasgow: "I can assure you it was just splendid. I have recommended it to quite a lot of people, also let them taste_it I often get a piece from Cooper -the best."' rCal!y think y°Urs ™3 A Scottish lady at Glashiels says she tl- T £ &eS New Zealand lamb, and market °IS Uothins better in the From a writer at Dumfries • " The amb arrived in good condition, and we have sampled it and found it excellent in quality. Frozen lamb is rather an innovation _m our household, but. the whole fam,ly are agreed that this New Zealand lamb was equal in quality to any honus-killed variety. Wishing you every success in the prosecution of your business on behalf of the New Zealand meat producers. Some other people, too, admit that they have eaten the New Zealand meat for the first time, and they all unanimously hope "it won't be the last as it was so nice and tender." From'Selbv comes the tribute: "We have had some to-day for dinner and- find it delicious. It is the first time we have tried it but shad certainly buy it in future as I much prefer it far before English." A Kirkintilloch correspondent who made arrangements to distribute joints among friends, trusts that by this method there will be created a greater demand. In numerous cases this method apparently was adopted, with the view to developing the demand. A butcher at Weston-super-Mare was called in to cut up one carcass, and to use his own words "it- is one of the best and in beautiful condition." A QUERY? A letter from Stockbridge, Hants, runs : "You will, I hope, realise that there is a certain amount of humour in the last paragraph of your card havin" been sent to me. I am a Suffolk sheep breeder, which having won more than half carcass competitions for pure breeds, and two-thirds for crossbreds at Sniitlifield, I might say, why does not New Zealand send to me for rams ? I do eat New Zealand lamb." A carcass" forwarded to Plumbridge (Co. Tyrone] arrived in good time for , Christum duuiec. Ew#n.d* wlw sliared

the present were all delighted with the quality of the Christmas dinner from New Zealand. One went to Jersey, was received with much pleasure, the writer saying: "I really don't know when 1 have tasted more excellent meat."

One at Bushev Heath "found the lamb to be in excellent condition and quite as good in quality as English, while my friends who had some are of the same opinion."

A Coldstream appreciator declares: "We could scarcely tell any difference between it and our own ■ home-grown lamb, and we live in a district famed for its beef and mutton." A resident at St. Leonards-on-Sea found the lamb very good in quality and as tender as a chicken, while an Ipswich tribute agrees that the lamb was quite up to the standard of excellence that it was announced to be."

Enough possibly has been quoted to show that the idea initiated by the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board was a very excellent one. ' No one here doubts that the demand for the lamb would be a constantly increasing one if purchasers at retail stores could be sure of being supplied with what they ask for when they say they want New Zealand lamb. Too often the frozen meat hanging in shops looks uninviting and stale. Those who received the gifts in this country were involved in absolutely no trouble whatever. The carcasses were delivered_ at the doors by carriers, used to handling meat, or -were taken at the request of the recipients to their trusted butchers for storage and dissection. The lamb was carefully sewn up in substantial sacking, and when this was cut away tha meat appeared bright and in exceilent condition. As one .butcher remarked who took temporary charge of a carcass, "It would keep in my store for six weeks."