MULTIPLICITY OF GRADES OF MEAT.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 58, 6 September 1926, Page 11

MULTIPLICITY OF GRADES OF MEAT.

In their latest market reports (writes "The Post's" London correspondent), Messrs. Henry S. Fitter and Sons refer to the old subject of the multiplicity of marks. "This season," they say, "owing to the lack of forward buyers, there seems to have been an epidemic of small parcels of meat containing many different grades, some of which amount to a single carcass only. Senders handicap themselves severely by this method, as not only Is the cost of storage higher, but the risk of delay or loss through over stowing, and the fact that many buyers will _.ot look at small parcels, greatly reduces the selling value while increasing the handling charges. It is not reasonable to expect the stores, when they are busy, to allot separate space to each separate sub-mark. In fact, the whole of the New Zealand trade suffers by the time lost In locating and 'sorting, and for the same reasons delays are caused In the deUvery from ships. Furthermore, this reacts against endeavours to obtain a reduction In the storage rates. We would, therefore, earnestly draw the attention of senders to these facts, as we feel sure It would be In their best Interests to pool more of their meat." New Zealand parcels, of course, aro regulated In regard to brands —that is, no one sends fewer carcasses than the minimum stipulated by the Meat Producers' Board under one brand. The matter, of grades, Inside that minimum parcel, has never been regulated. Tho trouble then arises, not at the ship's side, but In the store, where some meat firms pack the carcasses according to grades and not according to brands. If there are seven different grades in a parcel of 150 under one brand it is obvious that considerable trouble arises at the store. However, Mr. K. S. Forsyth (London manager of the Meat Producers' Board) does not think this year the multiplicity of grades has been any worse than before, and he' considers Messrs. Fitter's complaint raises no new question. The producers long ago refused to bo restricted In the number of grades they sent under any single brand.