PROHIBITION OF BONED BEEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 7

PROHIBITION OF BONED BEEF.

The pronounced disfavour with, which the British medical officers of health have looked upon boned beef, added to the objections which the New Zealand veterinariarians have expressed to the trade in the article, and the crusade in which the health authorities at Home are engaged against any food product regarding which they may be suspicious, have brought about the anticipated result and notification has been, received that after the end of this year the importation of boned beef to the United Kingdom will be prohibited. This decision of the Imperial Government might be interpreted as a slnr npon our system of meat inspection, but the statement wa6 recently published that ,but for confidence in thif inspection -th© prohibition would have come earlier. The fact is that the meat is as carelessly defrosted that it "thaws out" sloppy and unsightly, and deteriorates very rapidly. There is no contention that the meat is a credit to New Zealand, but as slaughtered and frozen it is unquestionably ■wholesome- for food, and the outlet which it has afforded' for culled dairy cattle and for stock which scarcity of feed prevented from being fattened has been of some value to farmers — more particularly in the districts. The prices which have Ijeen realised for old or unprofitable cows Jhave encouraged farmers to carry out the , advice of the dairy experts to cull their -leTds, and it is come satisfactoin to know that this process was very extensively • followed during last summer's scarcity of feed. All classes of cattle except prime "fceef were " boned,"' the result being that -in some recent periods the exports hi this form were larger than in the form of quarters. In future these cattle can be utilised only for canning, for which purpose the value of the animal is only that of its hide and fat, and many of the poorer descriptions will go bodily to the digester. Our herds, however, have been fairly well weeded., and the loss will be comparatively little felt until another drought occurs to cause sacrifice of stock. The most serious aspect of the case is that dt may be only a beginning, and that the •crusade may extend to other articles which are not open to full examination, cuch as tinned meats, butter, and) cheeseThe Home authorities appear to have developed a determination to take nothing on trust, and who can gay where it will stop? It is not stated that the Dominion's veterinary inspector at Home made any protest against this first prohibition; it is earnestly to be hoped that further action of the sort will not be carried into effect until after due inquiry in which the Dominion will be represented ~fcy experts. By the way. the promised appointment of a member of the dairy commissioner's staff to take up the work initiated by Mr Cuddie last season should not be much longer delayed.