The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1906. A GOOD ADVERTISEMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13013, 28 June 1906, Page 4

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1906. A GOOD ADVERTISEMENT.

Sir Joseph Ward's presence, in London, unfortunate as it is from, the political point of view, occurs at a peculiarly opportune'' time •'■'• as far as our comtniercial. interests are" concerned. His business"-train-ing and instincts have lad him to take prompt' action with respect to the check, imposed upon our meat exports by the '(ESicago revelations, and the publicitywhich lie. has been the means of giving to the colonial system of inspection should be productive of excellent, results. Prom the cablegram which we publish this interning, it appears that something has already been .dope in a quiet way in this direction, and probably at the instance of the High Commissioner, .the Secretary-of State for, : the Colonies has drawn the attention of the various Government departments ,to the safeguards provided in New Zea- _ a land with the object of guaranteeing the purity both of our frozen and tinned meats. We should imagine, however, that this is not likely to hav-ee much effect on the sale? of the colonial article, which has been passed over by the War Office on account of its price. It is not clear whether Mr Gilbert Anderson's complaint, ' and tte explanation it elicited from the Hon. W, P. Reeves, refer to tinned meats or to frozen mutton,'" but in either case, it is probable that New Zealand can be underquoted "by other countries—in tinned goods by owing to the aature; of the stuff that has been put up by .the Chicago . packers, and in frozen: mutton by fiie Argentine on account of the inferior quality of the carcases. What applies to the War Office probably applies, also to the other Government departments, sothat tihere does not seem to. be much to ihope for from official quarters. But the action taken by Sir Joseph Ward has. brought prominently before the British consnmer the stringent nature of the precautions taken, at this end to ■ ensure the ; : absolute soundness of the mutton supplied to him, and this spirited' advertisement for the excellence of our goods should assist the automatic expansion in the sales of frozen mutton which has accompanied' the diminished demand for potted meats. The development seems to be all ia New Zealand's favour,, for the bulk- of the canned goods produced in the colony's factories is- absorbed locally and in Australia, while - England provides the market for our ©at* >- put of frozen mutton. It ia more' to our interests to have' a healthy demand in London for tie ~ frozen mutton than for ithe ticoed meats, and the steps taken by Sir Joseph-Ward should help ~materially - to turn-the "growing trade former-. > in the direction of New Zealand,,