THE MEAT TRADE.

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1922, Page 3

THE MEAT TRADE.

NOTES FROM ABROAD. "Cold Storage" has the following information in connection with the Meat Trade: — A NEW "FRIGORIFICO." A group of capitalists is said to be contemplating the formation of a company to erect and exploit a "frigorifico" at Rosario, Argentine. Although the bulk of the cereals of the Republic is shipped from Rosario, not a single kilo of frozen meat lias yet been exported from that port, notwithstanding that it is situated in one of the most important pastoral zones of Argentina.

HANDLING OF MEAT. In his ,'innual report as Medical Officer of Leeds, Dr. Jervis complains of the present methods of handling meat. "0103111111083," he says, "is conspicuous by its absence, and not the slightest attempt is made to protect the meat from contamination in course of transit. Anything docs for ti cover; old sacking, horse-cloths, rags, etc., may all be seen in intimate contact with carcases fresh from the hangingroom. Such indifference to the elementary laws of hygiene, to say nothing of ordinary decency, is an outrage and an affront to modern civilisation." '

SOUTH AFRICAN MEAT EXPORTS. It is estimated that there is at present a surplus of 45,000 head of cattle in the Union of South So far as the Meat Producers' Exchange is concerned in bringing this down, it deducts 10 per cent, of the net proceeds of local cattle sales, and with that money cattle suitable for export are bought. At the completion of the overseas sales the money realised is distributed among the members who contribute to the so-called "meat pool." The Exchange contracts with the Rand Cold Storage Company for the slaughtering, etc., and itself looks after the grading and distribution. A HIGHER EXPORT STANDARD. On behalf of the Australian Federal Government the Minister of Customs is reviewing the regulations governing the export of meat, with a view to their revision. It is desired to establish a higher export standard. Mr J. B. Cramsie, Yico-Chairman of the Metropolitan Meat Industry

Board, Sydney, recently declared that nothing but first quality meat should be exported, and that it should be graded to a certain standard. FREEZING WORKS FOR RHODESIA It is reported that as soon as a favourable opportunity presents itself a, large meat freezing works will be erected in Rhodesia by Messrs. Sims, Cooper and Co (Australia) proprietary, Ltd. ARGENTINE MUTTON FOR FRANCE. Argentina is making special efforts to open up a mutton trade with France. Last month over 700 ewes from that source were landed at Havre for immediate slaughter. The French Minister for War has asked his Government to decide whether the Army shall cat frozen mutton twice a week. That would mean 1,000 tons of mutton a month and Argentina hopes to get a large share of the resultant trade.

THE CONTINENTAL MARKETS. Recent shipments from Argentina and Uruguay include 12,196 quarters of chilled and frozen beef to Hamburg, 9,976 quarters to Antwerp, and 2,444 to Rotterdam. In addition, 200 cattle and 470 sheep have been sent from South America to Antewerp, 310 cattle to Marseilles, and 270 to Genoa. NEW ZEALAND TO LIVERPOOL. In an inspection of the Liverpool Docks on October 2, Mr. J. S. Jessep, Vice-Chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, witnessed the handling of frozen meat at the Bootle Cold Store, Regent Road, and also visited the Union Company's premises at the Alexandra Dock. It was explained to him that Liverpool possesses in its sixteen cold stores, privately owned, a storage capacity of more than 9,000,000 cubic feet, and a hope was expressed that a more - regular and direct trade would be opened up between New Zealand and Liverpool.