THE MEAT TRADE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7848, 10 July 1911, Page 1

THE MEAT TRADE

POINTS FOR PRODUCERS FIRST REPORT FROM LONDON REPRESENTATIVE. Mr F. J. Shelton, Homo representative of the Xew Zealand Producers* Association, has advised the local secretary that he has opened an office at 14, Kin- street, Srnitliheld, in proximity to the great market. He has already visited Manchester and Liverpool, at which places ho was shown over the docks and accommodation by the authorities, and has also watched the discharging and delivery of meat at the London docks. He considers that there is a vast opportunity for iinju'cvoment in the methods at present in use. His first report from London has just route to hand. It is da led May 20th, and is as follows:

“On Sniulny night, iMay 21st, I attended the Smithneld market before it opnmd in order to watch the whole business from the time moat came along until the market was fully stocked at G a.m. on Monday, i have since been to tiie Albert Docks to watch meat being diVcbnrged from steamers there, and t will only say at present that JMr information as to dm unnreessary rough handling of meat at these two points was mild. The meat recoivtxl very much worse treatment thau ho described. I>c*ef, -on a«'nunfc of its weight aud bulk and laibility to hurt those handling it, is treated more respectfully than imiLton and lamb, 4 I

shall go more fully into this question later, hub in the meantime I would suggest the following two points for consideration by those interested in New Zealand, in* which the producers may assist themselves. DAGS KOU PROTECTION.

“Owing to the rough handling moat, especially mutton aud iamb, receives “aJl.Uio time/ and as it will necessarily be some time before facilities are

available and those engaged in Ibis business become educated to better methods, 1 strongly suggest that for the present, at all events, mutton and lamb should be packed in hessian sacks in addition to their calico wrappers. The material should bo good with the least fluffy sido inside. The bags can bo made of various sizes so os just to take the carcase, a few ,«i itches at the end being sufficient to keep the sheep in. In showing sheep i .at market the sheep arc hung by Uieir! iiind legs, on gambles, and tho present j wrappers pulled about half-way dorm (when they are not taken off altogether). The same procedure could bo followed with the outer cover.

“The bags shonld fit the sheep without waste of material, and at the same time not too tightly to cause trouble in removing. Tliis outer cover working on the inner cover will take a lot of chafing off the carcases in the many blows it receives after leaving the freezing store, and shonld appreciably enhance value. The objection to it is cost and freight. I think tho cost may be got over by charging tho bag to buyer with right of return. This is tho custom here, but not always. I think the freight on the wdight of tho bag should be allowed by tho steamer free, net weight of meat only to be charged for. •'‘Both of these are details to he worked out, the freight question I should suggest being arranged for with the shipping company in New Zealand at present. If the meat should realise id per pound better on account of this extra protection it will pay. I would strongly urge that some of tho freezing companies be induced to send a quantity, say 500 or 1000 each, by a steamer with extra bags and a similar quantity of same quality without extra bags, and note the results. I sent a line of some hundreds in this way when I was controlling tho Gisborne works, with the result the moat landed. in Smith Bold in exceptional order, and I refreshed my memory of tho circumstance yesterday by discussing tho question with the man to whom I consigned them. At the time the steamer people demurred to receiving the sheep, alleging that the looser bags might impede the circulation of cold air, but I got over this by pointing out that if the holds were properly cooled, and tho sheep properly frozen, the resulte would be satisfactory, which proved to be the case. The insurance on the doublebagged slieep need not bo more than for total loss, tho difference in premium would about pay for tho extra bag. SHIPPING MARKS AND BRANDING OF BAGS. “In the meantime, until some, better system can be arrived at, a great deal of unnecessary handling can be avoided if each interest is branded on the outride bags to correspond with delivery and B-ii mark, leaving the tags, and in caso of these being destroyed tho inside wrappers, to speak of tho independent description of the, carcase. To illustrate, a B-L ex Karamoa shows G.S.F.M. 9!) A 11 99 B 10 99 C 2 90 D 1 99 E 1 • 99 X 25 99 O 12 99 G 4 66 Thus for 66 carcases eight deliveries and sortings arc required. Tho outer cover for this need only record (tho freezing company brand and tho farmer’s number, viz.,) GSFM-99, so that in delivering tho moat from tho steamer only tho outer cover brand GSFM--09 would bo looked for and a lot of time and handling avoided, only one delivery being required and the sorting to sub-marks dono in store instead of at ship, lighter or dray. “1 may mention that I discussed these two suggestions with an experienced man interested in tho frozen meat trado, and ho heartily approved of same and said they wore very practical and useful points.”