MEAT PRODUCERS’BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19019, 15 November 1923, Page 13

MEAT PRODUCERS’BOARD

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. SUBSTANTIAL FREIGHT REDUCTION (Fhom Ode Own Correspondent.) LONDON, October 5. It is eight weeks now since Air R. S. Forsyth arrived in London to take up hia duties as representative here of the Now Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, and New Zealanders will scarcely need the assurance this this period has been usefully and busily Occupied. Part of the time Mr J. Pratier (general manager of the board) was in London with him, and together they carefully studied all the local conditions. At Smithield they put in quite a lot of time gleaning jmuch information, relative to the condition and grading of New Zealand meat, while also they gave considerable attention to the handling of meat at the London docks and us conveyance from ship via barge and cold store to the Smithfleld market. Mr Forsyth and Mr Fraser have been welt received by the executive of the British Incorporated Society of Meat Importers, and this authority has given its assurance that it will back up New Zealand in its efforts to improve the handling of dominion meat at this end, for, as everyone knows, there is much that could be done, and should be done, to see that the meat reaches the consumer in the splendid condition in which it is shipped. While it is very gratifying to hear the high opinion expressed at Smithfield as to the excellent quality of the meat—especially the lamb and mutton —it is very disappointing to New Zealanders to see the condition in which it too often reaches this great distributing centre. Although there has been some slight improvement in the handling at this end, the position is yet far from satisfactory. Mr Forsyth and Mr Fraeeg recognised that it would be necessauy to enlist the sympathies of the meat trade in effecting reforms, and as their interests in this particular matter are absolutely identical with those of the dominion producers the executive of the Incorporated Society of Meat Importers are now co-operating with the board, and arrangements are being made to supervise the unloading and handling at the wharves on the same lines as adopted by the board in New Zealand. There is a large field for Mr Forsyth’s activities in his endeavour to improve at this end the condition of the meat sent to the London market. It is very gratifying to him to And that the prices for New Zealand lamb approximate so closely to those given lor English home-grown. By the way, the attention of the board has been drawn to a case of foreign lamb being sold as "New Zealand.” This, as everyone is aware, does happen, while also it is common knowledge that New Zealand lamb is often sold as “Prime Canterbury ” —a label that unknowing housewives take to imply that it is the product of Kent. Of course, the latter procedure is a high compliment to the quality of our lamb, but in the case of the “ foreign ” substitute it is quite the contrary. However, Air Forsyth intends to prosecute in all such cases brought under his notice where sufficient evidence warrants the course—and one can only hope that every time he may be successful, for it is time thait this all too common practice were put to an end, and that housewives should be happy in the knowledge that they are getting what they ask for, whether it he “ Prime Canterbury,” “ New Zealand,” or “Foreign.” The term "Imported ” is a wide one, but it takes a load of responsibility off the shoulders of the retail Seller. IMPORTANT FREIGHT REDUCTIONS. Mr' Forsyth and Mr Fraser had several interviews with the representative® of the shipping lines regarding the freight contracts for next Season’s produce, and here their hands were strengthened by the authority they held from the newly-appointed Dairy Control Board to negotiate for the coming season’s freight for dairy produce as well as for meat. After very long procedure a contract was arranged for freight for the approaching 12 months. It is pleasing to record that New Zealand’s representatives have, as the result, secured a reduction of Jd per lb on mutton and lamb, and of 6d per box on. butter, while for cheese the rate was reduced from 1 l-16d, plus 10 per cent, to Id net. These reductions, compared with the freight® of the present season, will amount approximately to a saving to the dominion producers of £150,000 on meat and £150,000 on dairy produce. Mr Forsyth considers that this arrangement should be most satisfactory to all concerned, . and it shows once more the great benefit that producers may secure by amalgamating their interests in such matters. A word of appreciatory recognition is due to Mr J. S. Jessep, who did much excellent and hard spade work when he was here last year. It is hardly possible that a better pioneer in the interests of the New Zealand producers could have been found. He spent much time urging the heed for freight r& duction. During the last week Mr Forsyth has been conferring with Mt Massey preparatory to the latter’s presentation to the Economic Conference of his statement on the dominion’s food exports—Mr Forsyth confining himself, of course, to matters touching the meat trade. Presently he hopes to visit the outside ports—Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester, and Cardiff—being on his list. AT WEMBLEY. Immediately on their arrival here—Mr l*orsyth from New Zealand and Mr Fraser from the Argentine—they set about arranging for the installation of refrigerating machinery for the New Zealand section at Wembley Exhibition, where the dominion contemplates a comprehensive and efficient display of frozen meat, and of other products carried by the aid of the refrigerator— bucu as fruit, dairy produce, and fish. The erection of the refrigerating display cabinet will be superintended by Mr Hal Williams, a quondam New Zealander, who is now well established as an engineer in London, and is recognised as a leading authority on matters of refrigeration.