QUALITY OF MEAT EXPORTED

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 17

QUALITY OF MEAT EXPORTED

AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT. "A great deal has been saiid as to the effect of the dry season upon the quality of the meat exported this season," said Mr W. Howard Booth, at the P. and A. meeting at Carterton, "and it has been said that quantities of both mutton and lamb have been shipped which should not have left New _ Zealand. If the term 'quality' is taken in the wider sense of covering all grades, then there is no doubt- that the dry weather has deteriorated the average of our export; but the statement that oarcases have gone is incredible—shall I say ridiculous, —as the Government insp'Octors exercise a close scrutiny of, and would .have prohibited, the freezing of such animals." "I happened to be a director of a freezing company," said Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.P. "There have been references in a paper to the quality and also to the grading. With regard to the quality. I don't think it is necessary to do anything more than to ask you to read the cables in the newspapers and compare our figures with Argentine's and Australia's. We have always been in the front, and are in ihe front this year." As to the grading, continued the sneaker, the men employed in the work had had many years' experience,. and it was nonsense to say that the country had been sending to England meat Which should not have been shipped. "It

is not. It is contrary to facts." Some people advocated Government grading for meat. Government grading had don© a lot for dairying, but meat was very different from dairy produce. The highest offioiais in the Government service knew that if the Government took over the grading they could not do the work as well as tne freezing companies were doing it. Dominion.