EFFECT OF FLOODS ON AUSTRALIAN MEAT BUSINESS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23316, 27 July 1950, Page 6

EFFECT OF FLOODS ON AUSTRALIAN MEAT BUSINESS

close view of the meat business in Australia was gained recently by Mr. ,J. H. E. Egan, a member of a Gisborne, meat export firm, who has returned after studying conditions there during a combined business and holiday visit. Mr. Egan found the country experiencing a particularly bad period because of Hoods in areas from which stock came.

He was satisfied, he said, in an interview today, that the standard of work in butchers’ shops and meat works around Sydney and Melbourne was on no higher level than in New Zealand. Mr. Egan found retail prices of meat in Sydney about 20 to 30 per cent, dearer than on the Gisborne market.

For Mr. Egan it was his third visit to Australia since 1924 and during the time at his disposal he was able to gain more than a passing glimpse of conditions. He gained a bird’s eye view of operations in most of ihc leading meat industrial units of New South Wales.

He said comparative prices for meat in the metropolitan areas were for small goods.

“While I was there I noticed that the quality of meat in the metropolitan area of Sidney was not up to our own standard.” he said. “Whether or not this is the case in normal times. I am unable to say, but the country is experiencing a particularly bad period fmm the floods.”

The reason for the higher prices, he considered, was a shortage of stock. Considerable black-marketing appeared to be going on in Sydney. Killing Methods

Methods of killing in the meat works w"rc similar to those in New Zealand. This was done oracticallv all on the chain svstern. although in some cases 'he oval type of chain was ooerating. From discussions he had with works managers they were inclined to think that the direct chain va.- a superior method.

Referring to working conditions, he said that at the municipal works each workman seemed to operate without a care for the man alongside him. He noticed a man who had missed getting the skin off a sheen in file proper place of the chain. The workman had had to follow the carcase in and out among other workers to try and complete the job. Nobody, he said, was the least concerned about it. The danger to the workman on a greasy floor with a knife in his hand was no concern of anv other worker.

“But in the proprietary works the men seemed to work as a team and to he more helpful to one another and the proprietary establishments seemed to be hotter run ” he sa ; d. Mr. F.gan found facilities in the works, similar to those in New Zealand establishments, and said he considered them good in both cases.

Wng°s for works employees were much the same in both countries.