EXPORTING FROZEN MEAT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 969, 9 November 1910, Page 10

EXPORTING FROZEN MEAT.

POOLING TO BE TRIED AT GISBORNE. -. -V'.' -On occasions the pooling of . frozen meat for export has been advocated by the heads of New Zealand concerns". The "Poverty Bay Herald" states that the Gisborne Sheepfarmers' Frozen Meat Company has decided upon the inauguration of a system of,voluntary pooling inrespect of meat which will be prepared at their works this season for the English market. ' When' interviewed ■as to the. reasons for the introduction of . "pooling"- Sir, de Latour, the chairman of the board of directors of the company, said: "The : number of brands and marks going from' ' Gisborne causes the discharge in London ' to'be: unduly protracted while' the vast , imount of handling in the. ship and between, the ship and the- market eiitails damage from breakages, partial thawing, dirt, and discoloration. The farmers' lot of 150, .200, or 300 may go into the ship in perfect order and be the best of the whole season's output. Set what. does that, avail hirn when the

rarious grades and divisions of his cori'signm'ent . arrive on the market,', halfthawed, with torn covers, many broken shanks, and, in all cases, consequent discoloration from undue exposure in the sheds: and barges? Besides this, an increased cost is added up against him for extra handling and storage. Assuming the farmer's smaller lot to reach Smithfield in good condition, he has not the advantage p£ the competition of'thelarger : buyers. Such' a buyer does not want irregular lines._ ; What he wants is a .large line of a brand arid-grade-he knows something about, andlwhich he.can-buy 'ahead of arrival to supply 6is customers all over ' England with certainty and regularity. .. "The advantage the pool offers tlie farmers are these: He is afforded, with- '' out any extra, cost and probably at a saving upon what he now pays,- the. services of his company in •. getting, his pro- . duce delivered . in'the best' marketable' form. His lot will be graded at the . works on the cooling floor on'their merits as between himself and all other lots in the same pool. The company, not hand- , ling any lots on its own account, cannot ■■; m any. way gain any advantage by un- .-. duly holding back' or pushing the pooled meat from or upon the market. . For a start, it may be best to make each shipment •a- • distinct /pool, ■. but this . has not been fully? considered.. The pool will not prevent the farmer dealing with his wool separately, it. he, elects.to.do so.". .