FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17179, 8 February 1930, Page 5

FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY

JUBILEE OF FOUNDATION DINNER IN LONDON TRIBUTE TO PIONEER (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) LONDON, Feb. 7Bitting at wattle-decked tables at the Savoy Hotel, a distinguished assemblage, under the chairmanship of Lord Kvlsant, and including General Sir Granville Eyrie, Commonwealth High Commissioner, Mr. T. Tremble, Commonwealth secretary in London, the Hon. J. E. Fenton, Federal Minister of Trade and Customs, Lord Stanley Aldcrlcy, the Hon.’ T. M. Wilf'ord, New Zealand High Commissioner, the 'Agents-General of the Australian States, and Mr. .Samuel Vcsty, celebrated the jubilee of the foundation of the frozen meat industry', dating from 1880, when the steamer Strath Levon, under the auspices of Mcllraith, McEachern, Ltd., conveyed 84 tons of beef, lamb and mutton from Sydney to England. The prime founder of frozen meat export was Mr. B. Mort, who established the world’s first freezing works at Darling Harbor in 1801. Lord Kvlsant, proposing the toast to the “Pioneers of Refrigeration,” referred to the Brazilian Ambassador, U. Raoul de Olivera, Mr. Fenton, Bir Granville Eyrie, and Mr. Wilford. M. de Olivera, responding, congratulated Australia and New Zealand on their example, which had filled South America with admiration. Mr. Fenton, amid cheers, acknowledged M. de Olivera’s compliment, and paid a Iribitle to the services of Mr. Mori, who unfortunately had not lived to see the triumph which had been his. He had apparently died ot a broken heart, because one of his attempts to export- frozen meat had failed. PIONEER DIED OF BROKEN HEART Mr. Fenton also reviewed tho increase in Australian produce exports. He recalled the names of Mr. E. G. Nieholls and Mr. Andrew MclUvraith. The latter, though illness precluded his presence, was represented by his son, Mr. Harold Mellwraith. “We are going to make good old Australia bloom, and going to make Argentina and Brazil inn for it.” declared Mr. Fenton, as he sat down and shook hands with M. de Olivera. Mr. T. M. Wilford, who was loudly cheered, traced the history of the New Zealand frozen meat trade, and pointed out that the Dominion supplied over half of Britain’s lamb and mutton. lie prophesied the early success of recent experiments in instantaneous freezing, and cited instances of the Dominion’s recent land development. Bir Granville Eyrie disclosed that one of Mr. Mori’s relatives was his school-fellow, and recalled that the Australian working man had erected a m. nument to Mr. Mort owing to his broad humanitarianism. He complimented Mr. M. T. Brown, chief engineer of the Btrath Levon, who was present, and suggested that Lord Kvlsant. who is a giant in stature, might have n go at the Italian boxer Camera. The speaker aroused roars of laughter with two characteristic stories, reducing Lord Kvlsant to utter helplessness. The chairman responded. Mr. Brown also spoke. Mr. Joseph Raymond related a story of the Btrath Levon. He said two sons survived Mr. Mort. One was a clergyman in Surrey, and another, Mr. Macaulay Mort, was present that n igiii.