A CONTRADICTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1924, Page 2

A CONTRADICTION.

(To the Editor)

Sir, Having noticed your paragraph in your Wednesday's issue mentioning frozen mutton wns coming into the district from Christchurch and that in some instances it

was not turning out as ‘‘Prime Canterbury”. allow me to contradict this paragraph. I feel perfectly sure no frozen mutton has entered this district since I have been in business hole, and as regards the quality of this imported Canterbury mutton it is decidedly ahead of the local grown stuff. It is a well-known, fact, that Canterbury is the place where they can grow mutton. The Coast (Westland) certainly cannot, with the exception of, perhaps a few lines here and there. Apart from that, the mutton is not obtainable here. 'The whole oi the. mutton that is obtainable throughout Westland to-day, I dales,ay, could all he slaughtered within a lew days iu pile local abattoirs. Tlirue lining a, usual shortage here this time of the year, the farmers who do own fat sheep do not know wlmt to ask for thorn. But 1 do know 1 could supply them good fresh. killed. Canterbury mutton at about twopence to threepence per Ih. cheaper than they would care to accept for their own grown. So why cannot the public here enjoy good Canterbury mutton at a cheaper rate in preference to local grown mutton at a higher price, anil only then when obtainable, which would mean a few head per week distributed throughout the district. The public may rest assured when getting "Christchurch” mutton from any retailer, that each carcase bears the Inspector’s stamp. Again, before closing. I Suggest a statement lie published yearly showing the financial balance sheet of the Abattoirs affairs 'before the Borough Council look into the matter of lost revenue'.

'L'he Hospital Board has been informed I have been supplying frozen mutton to llie Hospital. In reply allow me to enclose lor publication the reply from the well established jinn who supplies all butchers in Grcymonth and Reefton districts with prime Canterbury mutton. Thanking you for your valuable space.—Void's etc.. ERIC JAMES. Hokitika. August l-ltli. (Enclosure.) The Secretary. Westland Hospital Board. Hokitika.

Sir.—Mr K. E. James. Butcher. Hokitika. has passed on to u.s your letter to him of August nth., in which you advise him that it has been reported to your Board that Mr James is supplying frozen mutton to the Westland Hospital. We believe that we are supplying Mr James with the whole of liis requirements of mutton and he lias requested us to write you. For your information we may sav that we supply fresh killed meat only, not only to Mr James, but to other Hokitika butchers and practically every butcher in the Greymouth and Reefton districts. Tn addition, the meat which we supply is of the very primes t quality, and no mutton is slaughtered until wo get the order from the butcher requiring it. For instance, when a butcher requires, say, a dozen earoases sent to the Coast on a Tuesday, we kill such meat on a Monday and send it over bagged in a stockinette frag which is enclosed in a corn sack and carried by the Railways in a special waggon. We trust that you will place this letter before your Ron rtf ns we feel

that Mr Janies has been unjustly suspected of supplying you witli other than fresh meat, apparently through misapprehensions on your informant’s part.

Yours faithfully, THE NEW’ ZEALAND REFRIGERATING COMPANY LIMITED August lltli.. 1921.