AUSTRALIAN CHILLED BEEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18947, 22 August 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN CHILLED BEEF.

THE “LINLEY” PROCESS. V ‘ > NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRITISH GOVERNMENT. (From Odb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 12. At the annual meeting of the Australian Estates and Mortgage Company, the chairman (Mr Andrew Williamson) made some reference to the question of chilled versus frozen beef “ The benefit of the chilled against freezing,” he said, quoting from a high authority, “is that the natural bloom on th© meat is preserved, and the necessity for defrosting is avoided. Defrosting, unl"as very properly carried out, loaves the meat with a very wet and sodden appearance, and it is one of the difficulties wo have to face compared with chilled meat, which can bo run direct to the retail butchers' shops a.nd served immediately without any further treatment.”

It looked as if some misunderstanding or general prejudice, said Mr Williamson, were blocking-the'way to the granting of permission for the importation into this country of Australian beef chilled by the Linley process, which he understood had been thoroughly tested and cordially approved by high medical authorities in England and in Australia. This process was proved on a practical commercial scale by a number of shipments before the war which were most satisfactory, the meat having been sold in first-class condition on the London markets up to as much as 91 days film the time of killing. Mere general prejudice should not be allowed to continue an embargo on what would be so great a benefit to so important on industry. “It would be a calamity to our whole Empire,” the chairman commented "if the Australian frozen beef industry were to be extinguished or even seriously crippled. H; would bo a national danger for this country to be dependent on foreign sources of supply in time of war. It is most regrettable that the Bridgmen Report has apparently received so little consideration from the Home Government. I am hopeful that in the near future Australia will be able to send us regular supplies of beef chilled by a special process, and negotiations with the Home Government regarding this are at present in progress.” ■