Mutton from New Zealand

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5025, 5 June 1889, Page 3

Mutton from New Zealand

In spite of the antipathy of a good many tiUJ-born Britons towards any meat that is not homo bred, thero can bo no doubt (says the Home Hexes) that we are now receiving an ever-increasing supply of animal food from abroad. Eiver Elate mutton is of excellent quality, bub tho growth of tho New Zealand frozen meat trade ought to be a far more satisfactory fact. At the present time fully a million sheep are sent over annually to the Mother Country, and no inconsiderable portion of these carcases is probably sold as prime Welsh, or Scotch or Southdown mutton. The prejudice against what foolish people call outlandish food is, however, gradually dying out; and in this realm, of a truth, the Now Zealand graziers are sure to find an excsllent and remunerative market for the produce of their pastures. This trade is likely to receive a potent stimulus if a fresh contrivance for lessening the cost of sending over frozen sheep in refrigerators be found fit for general adoption. Hitherto the cost has been about 2£d per lb, or 10s 5d per sheep of 501 b; but a new method of employing a vapour to prevent all chance of putrefaction will, it is said, reduce tho expense to 6d or 7d for as many as half a dozen animals. The intelligence seems almost too good to bo true; but if the now system really works well, a large increase in the export of frozen mutton from New Zealand may be confidently expected. That this is a consummation devoutly to bo wished, few people of common sense and breadth of views will venture to,deny.