SOME OF MR GILRUTH’S IMPRESSIONS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1533, 18 July 1901, Page 23

SOME OF MR GILRUTH’S IMPRESSIONS

THE REPUTATION OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

Mr J. A. Gilruth, Chief Government Veterinarian and Bacteriologist, returned to Wellington on Thursday from a visit to Great Britain, France and America, on behalf of the Agricultural Department and the particular branch of the service he controls. During the course of a conversation with a “New Zealand Times'*’ representative, Mr Gilruth gave some indications of the impressions gained during his travels in those countries. Both in the metropolis and in the pro. vinces of England Mr Gilruth found that New Zealand produce of all descriptions had a very high reputation. In fact, its good reputation was responsible for a certain drawback which existed —in all directions New Zealand produce was being branded and sold as the product or manufacture of counties and countries noted for their superfine goods. Referring to the reputation which was being established for New Zealand mutton, Mr Gilruth said that a West End M.P., with whom he dined, declared to him that he would never have any other mutton but New Zealand. He declared h© could tell the meat by the fine flavour it possessed. This gentleman was so particular in regard to the quality of his meat that he paid a fancy price t© ensure getting Aberdeenshire beef. He

superior in flavour to any other lamb Bold on the London market. New Zealand butter and cheese was also very highly spoken of in Loruion and the provinces. The branding of New Zealand mutton and beef has been advocated by Mr Gilruth in season and out of season, and ho has returned to the colony more than ever convinced of its imports ace. Its absence is responsible for all manner of abuses, which are prejudicial to the success of the frozen meat industry. A case came directly under Mr GilrutlTs notice in Lon_ don, where old merino mutton, from either Australia or the Argentine, wag sold branded as best New Zealand. The result was that the family who purchased it, on his advice, went back to their Englishdressed but New Zealand-grown mutton. These practices will not be stopped till the meat is branded. Another case of fraud was in regard to poultry. Mr Gilruth purchased (and they are coming out to the colony) a dozen fowls packed in a New Zealand crate, and Sold to him as New Zealand at a time nc poultry from the colony Was on the market. They came from America and were evidently transferred to the ©rate in London. It seemed to Mr Gilruth that there was less prejudice to the branding of meat than existed at the time of his previous vjnJt to London. In fact a member of the trade in Manchester (which market is outside the influence of Smithfield) expressed the opinion that the New Zealand people were foolish not to brand their meat. It is impossible, Mr Gilruth gays, to prevent fraudulent sales unless the branding ol New Zealand meat is instituted. “The principal information gained by Mr Gilruth in regard to bacteriology was in connection with the technique of the science. He had the privilege of meeting the leading bacteriologists of Great Britain and France and of spending a fortnight at the famous Pasteur Institute in Paris. Mr Gilruth also sl)ent some time in Washington and Ottawa, and discussed matters of interest to this colony in connection with certain diseases of stock. Some of the sewage disposal works were also visited at the request of Dr Mason, of the Health Department, and data was obtained which should be of interest. A few "wrinkles” were obtained from an inspection of the slaughter yards at Manchester, and some of the big packing houses in the States wer© inspected. In. the latter large masses of machinery unknown in the colony were the predominating features. On the points chiefly concerning the colony, however, that of killing, it appeared that the work was not done so cleanly or as economically as in New Zealand. From what Mr Gilruth had seen—taking the business right through—the meat export works of the colony appeared to be conducted as well as similar establishments in any part of the world. Mr Gilruth’s trip has evidently had bt# little element of pleasure in it. During the whole time he was on land Mr Gilruth was "up to his eyes” in the work of investigation, and no doubt his department will profit by th© information and experience he has gained.