The Hatings Standard Published Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1896. FROZEN MEAT.

Hastings Standard, Issue 105, 27 August 1896, Page 2

The Hatings Standard Published Daily.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1896. FROZEN MEAT.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we cas do.

A few months ago the Government appointed a Mr Henry Gray as Produce Inspector in London. This was done at the solicitation of the producers and in the general interest of the produce trade. The appointment appears to be a good one, and Mr Gray is evidently a competent man with the courage of his convictions. Lengthy extracts from a recent report furnished the Government by Mr Gray are given in the Evening Post of Tuesday last, and after reading this we can well understand why our frozen meat is declining in price. It has been quite the fashion to blame the voracious middlemen, the ring of Smithfield butchers, and the dishonesty of the retailers for the low prices of New Zealand frozen meat, but Mr Henry Gray knocks all this into the proverbial cocked -hat. The fault lies with the New Zealand exporter, and Mr Gray tells him so pretty plainly. How are we to expect the level of prices to be maintained when a proportion of every cargo is more or less damaged ? Misshapen carcases and broken shanks are not objected to by the importers provided the percentage of these is not too great, but when this fault expands into " out of conditioa " and " unfit

for food," the matter becomes serious. In one of his letters. Mr Gray says:— " I have to report generally that both meat and dairy produce continue to arrive in unsatisfactory condition. This prejudices the sale of the colony's products, damages the fine reputation formerly gained by her frozen mutton, and renders it impossible for a trade in New Zealand cheese to be begun upon anything like a proper basis. The landing of produce, whether meat, butter, or cheese, in an improper state, or in other words " out of condition," paralyses the trade in those articles. The placing of a portion of our supplies upon the markets "out of condition " hurts and checks the trade all round, and competitors immediately experience a benefit and probably gain permanent ground, from which it may be found it is impossible to dislodge them.

" I have discussed the subject of ' out of condition' meat with insurance companies; shipowners and merchants. The first, in some instances, seem to fear a reduction in the rate of premium for insurance on frozen meat which might result from any agitation set about for remedying the present unsatisfactory state of things. The second complain of increasing negligence on " the other side." whilst the third sees that neither the first nor the second separately, nor are both collectively, sufficient to secure for growers the full return which it is possible to secure if the trade were relieved from the prejudicial influence of " out of condition " goods. In the case of the position is even worse, on account of the fact that no insurance against loss arising from damage is effected except in a few isolated cases, which represents only a small proportion of the bulk. Insurance companies would be to blame if they accepted risks ongoods which come to hand in three cases out of five " out of condition."

Dealing with the carcases unfit for food, Mr Gray points out that if the matter ended with the destruction of the meat condemned by the Health Officer, the trade would profit rather than suffer loss, but " when a vessel discharges a portion of her cargo in such a state as to be too bad to pass the Officer of Health, a proportion of the remainder of her cargo will be in bad condition, although not so bad as to be consigned to ' the heap ' as it is called."

Another point elucidated by the Produce Inspector is as to the competition for freight by the shipping companies, and the bad effects of such competition. His statements on this subject are worth recording in full. He writes, — "It is also said that owing to the plentiful supply of tonnage in proportion to meat available for shipment, the representatives of the various vessels have been over-eager to secure all they could, without regard to its proper condition. For instance, if the engineer of one ship disliked the condition of a certain batch of meat and raised any objection to its being placed on board, he was liable to be told that what he objected to was quite good enough for two other vessels of different lines waiting to fill up. Further, in connection with this matter of meat j arriving in a bad condition, I was informed by one shipowner that it had been reported to him by one of his officers that one of the freezing works was in such a filthy condition that it was impossible to secure carcases from it in a clean and proper state. It suggests the desirability of some system of inspection of freezing works when such a report can be made, whereas it would have been considered entirely superfluous to suggest such a ■ thing, considering how essential to success is a proper system of working, and that cleanliness is absolutely indispensable." Writing on the 4th ult., Mr Gray ventures to make some reccommendations which merit serious attention. He says:— " As regards frozen mutton I gather that some of the leading importers are like the rats, trying to leave the unsatisfactory ships to those who are probably newer to the business and less experienced as to certain ' old oflenders.' I cannot see why, if tonnage is in excess of supplies, growers need have their meat carried in ships where the odds are greatly against its being delivered in satisfactory condition. " If properly grown, classed, frozen, and put on board perfect, there are still plenty of vessels on the berths with experienced men in charge of powerful engines capable of maintaining properly arranged holds. There are also suitable methods of transport at this end. Every point must be watched if success is to be reached. " The dividing up of interest all along the line constitutes a source of weakness, and it is worth considering whether an investigation might be made by the Government into each branch of the work. Surely the industry is of sufficient importance to justify any action of a practical character in reason."

The weak spot of the frozen meat trade according to the Government expert is the division of interest, each section conflicting with the other regardless of the consequence so long as a profit accrues. The producer is the great sufferer by this division of interest, and we hope the Government will make an investigation into each branch of the work as suggested by Mr Gray. The colony cannot abandon this great industry, but we must inevitably lose the trade if we scamp the work.