WAR TIME MEAT SUPPLY

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 108, 8 May 1941, Page 2

WAR TIME MEAT SUPPLY

Talk to Producers On Timbs Methods MEAT WITHOUT FAT REQUIRED Farmers experienced an interesting demonstration on the "Tim'b’s” methods of dressing mutton carcases at Marlon on Monday morning when Mr. Bam B. Timbs of Wanganui, who has had a life long connection with the export meat trade offered some criticism of the Meat Hoard and tho Government regarding the meat sent Home. Air. Timios explained at the outset that nis talk and demonstration was not concerned so muen with the mailer of conserving freezing space on ships as it. was with tho desire to assure that consumers at Home, now on limited rations, received eataiblo meat. He claimed that he had urged action along the lines oi his methods two years ago particularly with regard to tno heavy ewe mutton and had demonstrated tnat this could be made into a marketable carcase. The position at Home, he said, was that people received a rationed supply of meat. The carcase was cut up into the rationed weights and consumers were bound to take their allocation irrespective of the quality in relation to the meat content of the ration. It frequently happened that rations, cut from heavyweight wethers or ewes irom New Zealand, were largely solid iat and the unfortunate consumer had no redress, being obliged, under legal penalities, to accept the cut of moat lie was entitled to receive. Mr. Timbs said tnat a great deal of our over-fat ewe and wether mutton could be treated and made marketable by his metiiods of dressing the carcase so as to remove before freezujrr and shipping overseas ail excess iat as well as me naps, shoulder aud leg siianks as well as the scrag (neck tip). On account of being ovor-xat much oi our mutton suffered in price but attention to the matters mentioned above would result in a higher price being obtained and often this higuer price more than compensated for tho loss of weight due to the trimming. Air. Timbs spoke with a full knowledge of what nuppened over our meat during the Great v\ar and also with a knowiodgo of wnat wus Happening today in England. Under tno rationing system the people were looking for meat and expeo'led to receive eatabio meat iu their ration, not a lb. or two of fat which was useless. His kuowledge also of the meat trade iu the Argentine enabled him to offer tho assurance that there was no loss sustained through the cutting of carouses into marketable joints nor did the cuts cause any deterioration in tho quality of tiio meat which was frozen and not chilled as commonly supposed. Ho claimed that he had represented tho position to the Minister of Marketing and tho Aleat Board and had demonstrated that ins metiiods improved the carcase and converted it irom an unsaleable product into a readily marketable commodity. What was important, he said, was that such prepared carcases when being cut up lor tne mailing up of rations, ensured that each person received eatable meat and not a lump of unpalatable fat.

The carcase Air. Timbs had befors him to demonstrate on carried no excessive fat, nevertheless Mr. Timbs was ablo to establish very clearly his claims and to illustrate his arguments. Alombers were impressed with the demonstration and a profitable two hours resulted in discussing the points. Air. Timbs was accorded an enthusiastic vote of thanks and appreciation and it was agreed to arrange for him to give a demonstration at the forthcoming inter-provincial conference of the Farmers’ Union to be held in Palmerston North.