ARGENTINE MEAT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 6052, 9 November 1906, Page 4

ARGENTINE MEAT

EXPORTS TO ENGLAND.

REPORT OF A COMMISSIONER. FAVOURABLE VERDICT. Tho London “Daily Mail” recently despatched a commissioner to the Argentine to investigate the conditions of tho hoof and mutton export trade. The last of his articles written at Buenos Ayres on August 20th is aa follows: A few weeks , ago a discharged ©m. ployee of tho Smithfiolcl and Argentine -Meat Ccmpany levelled a charge against that firm to the effect that h& had seen a beef carcase condemned and marked by tire examining veterinary inspector as tuberculous, ami theiv conveyed to tho freezing room and hung with other sides oi l beef to bo. shipped to England. A Government inquiry was held in Buenos Ayres, and, ns a result, tho charge was proved, it was shown that tho veterinary inspector had slashed a'-cross-mark to the hono on each side of tho carcase; but then, instead at' accompanying, it to tho digesters winds would turn it into fertiliser, had neglected his duty. It was tho opening day of tho and m tho bustle and attendant confusion tho carcase was sent to the freezing-room, where it remained over night in a temperature of 30dcg. of frost; in tho morning its presence was discovoiod through its conspicuous marks of condemnation, and it. was at once taken to tho digesters. The official details had not been included in the original statement, b}it appeared from the inspecting officer's, testimony and from admissions niadoi ay tho original informant.. This i» eloquent as showing how completely, m concern would be at tho mercy of employees. , The complete innocence of officials of the _ company was shown by the fact that it was placed as a complete • carcase among others for ship, mont .to England, where its sale in a raw condition would have boon impossible. It there had been any dosiro to utilise the carcase as food, obviously it would have been tinned.

BEITroH BUYER SAFEGUARDED

'The very fact that this charge was made by an ex-employee, together with the nature of the- proof, shows how completely tho British purchaser of Argentine raw moat is safeguarded not only by inspection, but by surrounding circumstances.

I have completed my investigation of the River Plate “frigorifioos.” I have visited personally. the River Plato fresh Meat Company's at Campana and the Smithfield Company’s alt Zarate (both on tho River Parana), and Made diligent inquiries about tho other's. • The River Plato Fresh Meat Comparty’s plant is regarded as tho most complete in the country, and X believe it is the best. It possesses tho largest freezing works ia - tho world. No pigs arc slaughtered here, and when# tinned “lunch / tongues” are a byi product that is important. : The local demand for tho “Reformer” brand, (as. their tinned products are labelled) is. however; so great iiliat. little of their tongue or corned beef ever readies; England. : ■ '..This Company has now daily killing and. freezing Capacity for ; 6000 sheep and 800 bullocks, and ships annually to England 116,000,0001 b of frozen and drilled meat. Its arrangements are perfect, both from humane and 'sanitary standpoints. Hie bullock’ enters a long aisle, and ultimately finds himself alone in a chain her, shut out from tho view of his fellows; there he meets instantaneous and painless death. A selection of larger and fatter carcases are not frozen, but chilled, at a temperature hovering about , freezingpoint, and at the’ time of my visit there was a fast soa-gohig steamer lying within a few yards of the, chillingrooms, and receiving . carcases, that spent but five seconds in traversing tho open space between buildings and tho cool-rooms aboard. ‘ Mr Lindenheiraor, ; the manager, patiently conducted mo over the huge plant. Most of the by-products are made on the spot into articles ready for the -.retailer. Tho tallow leaves here as-delicately-scented toilet soap, ready wrapped and labelled; glue is sent out in transparent squares ready for the melting-pot.a. .1 saw a small mountain of yellow laundry soap and enough tallow candles placed end t« end to reach from the Bank to Westminster Abbey. Sheepskins ane completely cured, and leave tho factory soft and white as show ; “the bosk French kid.” There are heavy import duties upon all these ' articles, and the River Plate Fresh Meat Company has wisely benefited through them. . ■

ENGLISH MACHINERY. /, The wool haring been removed front t-ho skills by n depilatory process 'in the case, of merino sheep, or by eloetricallydriven shears if the 1 smooth pelt of a Lincoln or Soutluiown makes that possible, is sorted and the lots ,aro sentseparatoly through an ingenious wash-; ing and drying machine. All tbs. machinery here except this drying rnachino is of English manufacture. If the slightest trace of tuberculosis is discovered by the übiquitous Government inspectors tiro of whom are on duty here, ■•the’ company does not avail itself of its undoubted right to use the untainted portions, hut consigns the entire carcase to the, fertilising plant: I saw the remains of what had appeared to bo two prime bullocks turned into fao huge digesters during my day’s stay at Cnmpana. Not so if the dread carbuncle Cam thrax) is discovered.-: The dismemberment of the host of that bacillus would bo fraught with too. groat danger to the butcheilt is hauled whole upon a truck, pulled up ail inclined plario to a huge crematorium—which waa pointed out to mo .standing alone soma distance away—and reduced to ashes, I next visited the Smithfiold and Argentine Company's plant at Zarate, on. the River Parana, and am convinced that the methods of inspection employed them preclude, beyond any reasonable doubt, thci possibility of moat from diseased cattle reaching any market where it would he offered for human consumption. . The falling-off 'in the demand for tinned meals has greatly aiignmentc-d t|iat for the raw products. This increased demand has resulted in a marked diminution of stocks of fat catlW. and'the rattle-grower is getting “ton-prices”— ICOdol. a . head was paid, to-dav for a Ihor.-mnd ordinary beeves. Tlie usual price at this time of year, when high prices prevail would havo been “odol, or abcitt CO 10s.