CHILLED BEEF

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 51, 24 November 1926, Page 3

CHILLED BEEF

A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT

A BENEFIT TO PRIMARY INDUSTRIES Dominion Special. Auckland, November 23. A further interesting aud valuable experiment in the storage of beef by chilling was concluded to-day at the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company s works at King’s wharf. The test of the svstem, applied to beef, which has been used by the company lor many years in the storage of iruit and other products that do not require to be frozen was carried out by the company during Juno and July, and the result was highlv satisfactory. It was demonstrated beyond doubt that the storage of beef in a chilled condition could be carried out for a period much longer than is necessary to transport beef to overseas markets. Subsequently the test that has just concluded was arranged and carried out under the supervision of a coiniiiittee which included representatives of shipping companies, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, and a bacteriologist, togther with officials of the freezing company. On August 27 sixteen quarters of beef were placed in a chilling room, some of them being wrapped in stockinette bags and some uncovered. On October 28, after a period of about nino weeks, a test was made of oue of the quarters and it was found to »be in perfect condition. When inspected to-day after a period of practically 13 weeks in the chilling chamber tho beef was in good condition although there were slight indications of mould apparent on fhe covered quarters. Tho beef will be finally disposed of to-morrow after havin'-’ boon in store for 90 days. The result of the experiment endorses the contention of Mr. T. ‘'jl l1 * son, general manager of the comnanv, that the best method of chilled storage is the circulation of air with a wet battery inthc chamber. “The most important factors to be con-

siderctl,” be states, “are temperature, humidity, and purity of the air, and these can be effectively controlled by the system adopted by the company. Originall designed for the storage of fruit and cheese it has now been demonstrated that the systo mis applicable to all classes of primary products that ar* transported to overseas markets. It. is claimed that if ehips’ holds, or tween decks wei'e fitted with the wet battery svstem ’’the chambers could be used ror the carriage of either cheese or fruit, and if the ratio of pipe surface and cubic fret of storage space were increased the chamber would be quits suitable for either meat, butter, cheese, or fruit. The company has been experimenting with air circulation and wet batteries for many years and the recent tests have contributed much to the knowledge previously gained from, the practice of the system. It is claimed (hat its general adoption would hens- ! fit extensively primary producers of New Zealand in transport of all classes of products.