HANDLING OF FROZEN MEAT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1017, 5 January 1911, Page 6

HANDLING OF FROZEN MEAT.

.•[To The Editou.] Sir,—l notico.that a-very, wide circulation has been given in this Dominion to 'a letter signed by" Mr. Louis A. Furniss, secretary of the. Incorporated Society of Meat Importers,.London, together with letters of live others interested in tho meat trade. "'- It is to" be noted that all these letters, with the exception ■of one, refer inclusively to the allegations inado by Dr. Chappie, in connection with the handling of frozen meat. This exception states, "We are led to. infer that Dr. Chappie made - his investigations under the direction of Mr. W. 1). Lysnar, of Gisborne, etc.," and then goes on to : deal with one phase of tho investigations, vis., 'tho' condition of the barges, and^on.the main issue it is to bo noted thai they only say "We are unable to make any' definite" reply, as nothing of the nature. referred .to has ever come under our observation. Consequently, while by some this correspondence maybe read as an answer to my report, as .well as that of the New Zealand Committee, it is, in fact, not so,, but'in fairness to Dr. Chappie I may say that' he did accompany myself and some of the other members of the New Zealand Committee in some of our tour's of investigation, and-1 say,with regret that ; tjiere is absolute truth in, and justification* for, his allegations, but I have some doubt as to-his prudence in making' ■ public so much detail. ,

It is very important for.your readers to ,no to that' the letter of the secretary of the Society of-eat"Exporters is dated . iri"L'oTidon, November 9, 1910, while the .committee's report' is. dated' in London October 19, 1910. - I may say that .' I had the pleasure'of meeting tho.presidont of the incorporated Society of Meat- Importers on several occasions, and fully discussed this matter .with him, and on .October 21, the day I left' Lcyldoi, I wrote : to..the president's firm and told them that the New Zealand Committee's report was completed, and that I- had arranged for a copy to bo supplied to them immediately. Thjs I have every reason to' believe was done. Under these circumstances, I would ask your readers to in no way regard tile, correspondence referred to above as in any. way challenging or - questioning the" report, of tho New -'/Zealand Committee. , . • .

.While writing, I, will take, the opportunity, of.: saying:'that, the only public reply that has, been made to cither my report or that of the New Zealand Committee, is an anonymous report in ono of the recent issues of the'"Pastoralists' Review," thought it'is to be noted that the "Review" refers to it as that of "x correspondent" and not "our correspondent." I_ havo every reason to believe that this correspondent is a person interested in the meat trade, as I uotico that" he. refers to' by name' one of the barges in which I report having seen 6i- inches oi." water, and he goes on to say, that tho men in charge were washing down tho barse and stated they "told Mr. Lysnar so." This shows an internal knowledge of matters, and since he has gone so far,. I can say that I was not informed; that the barge, was- being washed dowii. It would have been quite ri- : diculous for _such_ a statement to have been made as tho'fcvgo in "question was some. 13 .miles :down. the Thames and actually lying alongsido a New Zealand steamer Waiting to receive frozen meat, there' being some 20 or more barges in the vicinity. After-an inspection of a number of the barges, all disclosing a very bad condition, I appealed to the superin';eudent. to find a sound barge in the fleet, so that ~we could tell the New Zealandcrs that- wo-had', seen at least one sound one.

His sccond-hi-charge.~ whose name I have',- said:...."l .will find you a barge, sir, that is right." He went away and returned shortly- suggesting, we should inspect the very barge referred. to by the correspondent- in thb "Pastoralists' Review." On going-to the barge I.asked: "Is this barge waiting to receive meat out of this, ship?," "and the superintendent, replied! "Yes,-all the barges hero are." I .then , requested that the hatches be "opened, and-upon'that being done it was found, to tile astonishment of all; especially the superintendent, that water was actually awash above tho cargo floor, .arid .on. measurement, it was found that there was about CJ .inches of woter ill-the-'- barge; :There we.re : ,no signs or suggestions of • nny~ washing down, and any statement that there Was-is absolutely' contrary to ;,fact. •I can - assure your readers that tho bargemen were "at a totrif loss to make any explanation, nnd we ceased our investigations as to- the barges at this juncture, as. .the bareehien - had 'then to acknowledge, that they, could not show us a good sound barge in tliat fleet. The explanation that the correspondent now offers of "washing "down" is on afterthought: and. were, it- true. I would ask is it. liltclv that OJ inches of water would bo .poured into a large barge merely to wash: it down and bo allowed to remain there until the barge wont alongside tho ship some 1.1 miles down the river from the barge depot to. receive corito. It is verv gratifying that in the samo issue of the "Pastoralists' Review" in which the above correspondence appears, I hie editorial notes approve what the New Zealand Committee has done, and looks for some good results, thus.showing that this correspondent is not voicing the opinion of the jonrnal.--I' am, etc.,

W. DOUGLAS. LYSNAR. Gisborne, December 31, 1910.

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