THE MEAT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 76, 22 December 1917, Page 13

THE MEAT TRADE

STORAGE CONSIDERED ADEQUATE

NO RESTRICTION,,ON SLAUGHTERING "The outlook for the frozen meat export trade during the season just commencing is much brighter than for some time past, the latest' information regarding shipping indicating that, provided the snips arranged for come along to time, the balance of last season's meat, left in store will to shipped by the end of January," said the Prime Minister yesterday. "At one time, in view of the then unpromising outlook, the Government, aided by the advice of the Board of Agriculture, gave serious and careful consideration to the question of what course would be best to adopt in order to utilise the storage space in the Dominion to tbe best advantage, if ; as then seemed quite possible, circumstances arose which would render it impossible for storage to be found for all stock available for freezing for export. "Various suggestions were considered, among them the prohibition of the slaughter of tthite-faced ewe lambs, the-janning, instead of freezing, of nil second-class ewes, the prohibition of the slaughter of young cattle, etc. It is satisfactory to "note, in connection ivith this, that farmers themselves subpitted a number of suggestions which indicated that they were fully prepared to do their best to assist the Government in cdping with the possible difficulty and to make such sacrifices ss were liecessary in order to enable the live stock aiid meat freezing industries to be carried on to the .best advantage itnder the circumstances. The freez- • ing companies also rendered valuable aid by taking steps to provide a large amount of additional storage space', the erection of which lias been of very great value in relieving the position. "Having regard to'the outlook, it is riot considered at present necessary tc impose any special restrictions upon the slaughter of stock ifor freezing, but ' p.t the same time it is desirable that stock owners and nil concerned should ■use everv endeavour to avoid putting through the works unfinished animals, so that not only can storage space be utilised to the best advantage, but the delivery _to the Imperial Government of a uniformly good quality product, according to claBS, be ensured."