NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18944, 15 May 1933, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

EFFECT OF MARKING.

CRITICISM IN ENGLAND.

NOT APPLICABLE TO N.Z„

AUCKLAND, Monday.

A cablegram from London alleged adverse effects from the marking of New Zealand meat. All the points raised in the cableg"am are said by meat exporters to be contrary to New Zealand practice and experience and therefore not applicable.

“It is difficult to know what the message means,” said one exporter, “for the reason that no New Zealand carcases exported to Britain bear a mark. The wrapping is marked with the stamp of the works of origin, and the meat is ticketed with a printed ticket Issued by the Department of Agriculture. Certainly I have never heard of advertisements being stamped on meat.”

The only meat to bear a stamp was that »used for New Zealand consumption, and this was marked to meet the requirements of the law. The stamp showed the works of origin and was applied with a special Ink ■that was entirely harmless. Could Not Happen.

Referring to the statement that New Zealand mutton had been affected presumably through hanging too long before going to the chilling rooms, the exporter said the system -of slaughtering and freezing would not allow this to happen. Assuming that decomposition had been detected in % 'carcase, such a case would be extremely rare.' As for the absorption of the taint of oil and oranges during shipment, he did not think this could happen with meat that had been frozen.

An official cf the Department o{ Agriculture said he was at a loss to understand the reference to marks on New Zealand meat in London. If such an Instance had cceurred he could only suggest that someone in London had been experimenting In that direction. No marks were placed on the meat before It left New Zealand. He could not recall the last occasion on which there had been complaint of meat absorbing taint in transit. Such, an occurrence was very rare.

The inquiry in Britain is being madd into an application for an Order-In-Council under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1920, to require the marking of imported meat and dressed and undressed poultry with an Indication of origin.