Frozen Meat.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 257, 5 May 1897, Page 2

Frozen Meat.

MR ALEX. BELL IN GLASGOW. The following interesting correspondence on tbe subject of the sale of frozen meat appeared in tbe North British Daily Mail, Glasgow :— Sir,— l wish to draw your and the public's attention to a very noticeable feature in the densely-populated parts of tbe city— viz., foreign frozen meat shops. It is a matter of great surprise to me that tbe dealers in frozen meat have not established places of bnsiness in Hillhead and other fashionable parts of the city. I daresay it is because tbe well-to do classes thoroughly understand that the article in question ia not good enough for them. Need we wonder at the elite of society refusing to patronise such shops when it is known any person wishing to contract for the supply of meat to tbe City Poorhouse is furnished with a schedule to fill np which emphatically states tbat " frozen meat will not be accepted ?" Do not for a moment imagine tbat I am a mere theorist. Being a practical butcher, literally speaking born in tbe trade, I take exception of this frozen meat being offered to the pnblic. I appeal to people of common sense. It must be evident tbat the article is without nourishment when they consider the ordeal through wbich it has to pass from tbe moment it has been killed until its arrival in this conntry, after coming a distance of 13,000 miles, and coming in contact with a mild atmosphere. Wben cut np for sale the thawing process commences, and there is a continual dripping of the essence or juice. So much in this case tbat the shopman, in order to keep hia counters dry, bas to wipe up with a cloth the purely nutritious part of the meat ; therefore, the so-called meat that is sold to the public is void of nourishment. I ask the question, would a physician order frozen meat for his patients ? Certainly not, he would have too much respect for his reputation as a medical roan to do anything of the sort. Scientific men will bear me out in all I have said, in face of the fact tbat the powers that be will not allow even the paupers of the city to eat frozen meat. No doubt the reason must be that the meat is detrimental to health. Tbis is my unbiased opinion of frozen meat, and I sound the clarion note against its use as an article of food.— l am, &c, James Steel. 205 Albert Road, East Pollokshields, Feb. 22. The challenge thus thrown out was quietly taken up by Mr Bell, who in answer wrote as follows : — Sir,— ln reply to your correspondent, Mr Jas. Steel, 205 Albert Road, Pollokshields, re frozen meat, to take him seriously, I think, will be admitted by the trade to be au undeserved honour. I will only take the principal points in his letter ; but, first, I wouid like to kindly ask bim how long it is since he came to think as he does now, and also if he has not been Belling for years frozen meat, aud at that not the finest quality ? He says he is a mere theoristPerhapsso.bntaßto being praotieal as regards this class of meat is a matter of opinion. He writes that the poorhouse won't accept frozen meat, but I thoronghly well know that what is referred to is what is called River Plate or American meat, and has no reference to Australian or New Zealand meat, which is without doubt the finest that can be reared anywhere in the world. Also, another thing he says is that scientific men will bear him out in his statement. I have in my possession j net now a very thorough and extensive test, of which I enclose a copy, and by which you will see that Mr Steel's statement is caused more, I think, by a business disorder. I am open to put to a test two pieces of steak or chops - one of the finest home- fed and the other New Zealand—and have them cooked under strictest supervision, and leave it to the judgment of any unbiassed party that can be brought forward, and take their verdict if they can find the New Zealand meat not so nntritions and palatable as the finest borne meat. lam a native of Scotland who left 30 years ago, who returned for the special purpose of selling New Zealand meats, and who is therefore on his native heath, and therefore knowing how far off the mark as regards -eraoity your correspondent is on this matter, I cannot let this chance go by of replying to a statement which shows the effect of showing so little of the matter as Mr Steel doss. Also, I would like to ask Mr Steel if be has never sold frozen mutton as home meat, and now that there are shops in Glasgow selling froien meat as such and not deluding the public, perhaps your correspondent finds such shops to hurt his trade and therefore fsels aggrieved and the shoe pinching tightly, and therefore not being able to make about 100 per cent out of his trade by selling this class of meat at such prices as are given for finest Scotoh. He also asks why no shops to sell this meat are opened in Billhead, and takes upon himself to think that it is because the people there are of the wealthier class they won't buy it, but I am et present supplying some of the best people both in Patrickhill and also in Hillhead, and there is no reason why I should give double the rental when I can snpply the Hillhead folks from a shop in another locality at less tban half the rental. And further, a considerable number of the better class of the people of Glasgow bave had meat from the writer who has received numerous letters expres sing their thorough satisfaction with it in all respects, and tbat it is quite as good as as home mutton— in fact, better than a considerable quantity of the old ewes which are sold here, and that would be boiled down for pigs' meat in New Zealand- I would be most happy to meet Mr Steel when I might be able to impart some more practical ideas of this subject than those he puts forth in bis letter. Hoping I have not trespassed on your'valuable space, — I am, etc, Alex. Bell." Well done, Alex I