CHILLED BEEF VENTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 24, 30 January 1933, Page 11

CHILLED BEEF VENTURE

MASTERTON SHIPMENT

PORT FAIRY CARGO

. (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") MASTERTON, This Day. "We have now definitely decided to ship forequartcrs as well as hindquarters," Mr. P. J. Borthwick, a director of Messrs. T. Borthwick and Sons, stated in the course of some observations on the experimental shipment of chilled beef, which leaves Wellington by the Port Fairy next Friday bound for the Home market. "Experts in London," added Mr. Borthwick, "consider that the hindquarters will carry far better.if they are accompanied by forequarters." The shipment will now comprise 300 hindquarters and 300 forequarters. As.has been previously stated^ there is little difference in the Home prices of chilled and frozen forequarters, and it had been the intention of the firm to send from 550 to 600 hindquarters and only a few forequarters to ensure good storage for the hindquarters. The altered decision simplifies killing somewhat, as not so many bullocks will have to be slaughtered now." Killing operations for the shipment commenced last Monday, continued all the week, and will be concluded to-day. Every precaution is being taken to ensure that only the very best quality beef will be shipped and a number of quarters have been rejected. "The killing," said Mr. Borthwick, "is being carried out entirely by nonunion men and it is being done very well indeed. In fact," he added, "I have not seen better dressed beef in New Zealand." TREATMENT AND LOADING. The quarters are being' chilled in one chamber and then stored in another chiller, where they will be held till ready for shipment. The actual loading out will net.be done until the last possible moment. With its customary enterprise, the firm had its chillers at Waingawa done up last winter, and they are now considered to be tho most up-to-date in the Dominion. Touching on the actual chilling process, Mr. Borthwick said that a nuhiber of ordinary electric fans had been installed in the chamber so as to keep the cool air circulating. Air circulation, he added, was" one of the main points to be considered. Any variation in temperature resulted in mould, but this difficulty could be overcome by go6d circulation. Stressing the importance of circulation, Mr. Borthwick said that, by means of actual experiments it had been found that in a room held at 32 'degrees without air circulation there was a" difference of over two degrees between the temperature at the top of the room aud that at the bottom. The ordinary rising of hot air and the falling of cold was. not enough, as movement was not uniform. It was necessary to have an even temperature as well as air circulation. A HOPEFUL EXPERIMENT. While full stress was laid on the fact that the shipment was purely in the nature of an" experiment, Mr. Borthwick spoke quite hopefully as to the outcome. They felt quite confident, he said, that the shipment would prove a success. Naturally, he pointed out, a great deal depended on the rates of freight charged by tho,shipping companies', but he felt sure that a commercially workable basis of freight charges could be arranged. The increased charges would account for some .of. the difference in.the price obtained for 'chilled as compared with frozen beef. Even so', he thought the returns Would still be satisfactory. 'The Port Fairy will proceed to London via Cape Horn, the voyage taking approximately 40 days. How long chilled beef will retain its, condition and remain free from mould depends on a number of undeterniinable factors and is therefore rather problematical. Some of the meat from the recent Brisbane shipment lasted over 50 days and was then marketed in splendid condition. South Africa has been displaying enterprise in marketing successfully a number of experimental shipments. One shipment was treated at Johannesburg, railed about 1000 miles to Cape Town and marketed in London in excellent condition. Tho Wairarapa shipment will bo taken straight to Smithfield from tho docks, where it will be sold right away. "The quarters," said Mr. Borthwick, "cannot be held and must go straight away, irrespective of what the price or the market might be."