DOMINION MEAT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2026, 12 August 1920, Page 6

DOMINION MEAT.

ALLEGATION AS TO QUALITY. "NOTHING TO BE ALARMED AT.'*[From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 11. Tho reported inferior quality of New Zealand meat at present being marketed in Great Britain formed the subject of a question in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Dr A. K. Newman (Wellington East), quoting from a letter which he had received, said that butchers' shops in Manchester were closing down as a protest against the quality of the meat which they were receiving from the Food Controller, it; being so bad as to be unsuitable tor sale. Dr Newman asked if any New Zealand meat was included in that, and if there was any quantity of the Dominion product sold in store at Home. The Prime Minister (Bt. Hon. W. F. Massey) replied that he had seen in the cables mention of the fact that a considerable portion of the meat landing in England from this country was not up to the mark, but very great care was taken, in sending meat away from here, to see that nothing that was not of firstclass quality was shipped. His opinion was that the deterioration took place after the meat left this country, and especially in the stores at Home. He did not think that there was anything to be alarmed about. It was acknowledged that the meat was not so good after two years in store as when it was first placed there, but, on the whole, New Zealand meat—considering the difficulties that people in the trado had to contend with —had kept exceedingly well. Had there been anything seriously wrong, he Would have heard from ;the High Commissioner, and he had had no communications.

Dr Newman: Will this interfere with the sale of our next season's meat J Mr Massey said that he did not think it would have any effect. Those in the trade at Home were good judges of meat, and, when a good article eame along, they knew it, and were keen to take it up. Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) asked if the Prime Minister would ascertain the temperature at which the British cool stores were run. It would be found that the temperature. was considerably higher than that insisted on in NewZealand, and that, he thought, waa wholly responsible for the deterioration in quality of Dominion meat. I Mr Massey replied that he would have inquiries made in that direction.