NEW ZEALAND LAMB

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 225, 17 June 1920, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND LAMB

A GREAT ADVERTISEMENT

NEWSPAPER, ENTERPRISE IN NEW YORK

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Juno 16. The arrival of the steamer Armagh at New York with 290,666 pounds of New Zealand lamb for sale in'the American market was announced last month by cablegram dated May 9. From files to hand by mail it transpires that this consignment was being put on the market by the "Globe" newspaper, the avowed object being to produce a reduction in the prices being charged to the. public for home-grown lamb and mutton. "The finest lamb in the world, New Zealand lamb, is hern at a-price which will smash the market, with a saving of from 12 to 14 conts a pound to 'Glo'be readers," runs an announcement of the scheme. "All this week the wholesale price of top grado domestic lamb has been 84 cents a pound, with medium grade selling at 32 oente. Lower grades liavo brought less, but even old sheep 'have been bringing 25 cents wholesale The 'Globe' has effected arrangements whereby the choicest quality of New Zealand lamb will go immediately to demonstration stations at 20i cents a pound wholesale for tho whole carcass. Explaining that the arrangement wan made with the express purpose of endeavouring to break what were claimed as inflated prices charged for meat by the ■packers, the writer' pi the article added, that a second shipment, was on the w-ay, carried by the steamer Suffolk. After that a steady stream of Now .Zealand mutton and lamb would pour into the New York market. The arrangements called for 6,000,0001b. a month for six months, at a little less thanlß cents a pound for. lamb, and not quite 16 cents for mutton. "Of course. this means a tremendous sag in tho price of meat all round/' he continues. "The 'Globe price .will strangle the upward trend. -lne eeries of articles continues from May » to May 18, that being the last number of the "Globe" to arrive. As soon as the shipment became available, a list of those retail shops selling New Zealand lamb was appended daily, tho public being urged to buy and thus, while securing lamb of the finest quality, aid in the. fight .apainst what are described as "patrioteers," "pilfitwsrs. and "profiteers." while the merits of tho scheme, and the saving to be effected were emphasised; Particular strew, is laid upon tho quality of the meat being offered. "New Zealand lamb ranks higher than the iamb of any other coun- ■ try on earth," states one paragraph. Its ouality is of such surprising excellence that retail-butchers who now_s.ee It for the'first time can scarcely believe the evidence of their own souses. One simply cannot exaggerate the really astonishing superiority which distinguishes the New Zealand product from that of the American market. ■ It represents a dif- , ference so substantial and self-evident that only your own experience can reveal the.truth."

"Yesterday I stood by while the Armagh's hatches were opened," continues the writer. "I watched her wonderful chambers disgorge the finest specimens of lamb, ever examined by a Government veterinary officer, each separate carcass bearing a tag wiith the signature of the official who inspected arid passed it. The dressed meat is done up in an individual cheese cloth garment as if cleanliness and decency meant something to New Zealanders, who are now destined ..fa> exhibit the extraordinary merits of their native lamb to tho admiring eyes of.hungry Americans." The opinion of'a man engaged in the meat trade is detailed in the. following passage—Alfred Benjamin, an importer of Argentine meat, purchased a leg of New Zealand lamb.. Reporting his experience, he said; "I realise I am not doing my own business any good in giving expression to my enthusiasm over this New Zealand Jamb. Tho flavour is vnlike that of anything in the world. The fine hotels have never served anything to compare with it. The baby lamb served as al specialty is feo far l inferior in:quality and;flavour to this-.New Zealand meat that one wonders vhy. New Zealand iamb did not come here many yeara ago. It certainly has como to Btay." . t ■ The reception of the meat r.y the public is described, in the following enthusiastic terms:—The'6tores were actually crippled by tho rush for New Zealand lamb.' The demand for legs cssumed a capriciousness not easily described. No Jamb has moro than two hind legs, yet the public in its delirium of eostaoy seems to act on the assumption that New Zealand lamb consists exclusively of legs. At any rate, those who have had their first taste of New Zealand lamb, from whatover out of the carcass they wero lucky enough to get a portion, will scarcely ever again be satisfied with, any other kind.

The Armagh sailed from Wellington on March 27 for New York. The whole of her consignment was not to the "Globe." The balance above the quantity token .'in conneotion witn the schema was ensigned to Armour and Company, ond it . was stated that that firm find purchased ' in New Zealand at something over 11 cents a pound. It is not revealed by ' what agency the, "Globe" transacted its purchase of the moat. It is stated, however, that the. negotiations began 60 <inys ; prior'to tho arrival of the ship, ond. that further purchases were being arranged in conneotion with the same project. . The paper claimed that but for its interference' tKe -whole of the shipment would have been quietly put on the market by packers at prices equal. to those then being oharged for home-grown mutton, and that extortionate profits would h; vo been made. .