SUPERSEDING THE FREEZER.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8790, 18 April 1907, Page 1

SUPERSEDING THE FREEZER.

Hitherto it has not been found possible to convey meat in a chilled state from Australasia to the Old Country. Attempts have been made to bring chilled meat from Few Zealand, but though in one or two cases fairly good results were obtiined./our London correspondent b:lieves that those interested apparently decided that results on the whole were not good enough to warrant further shipments of commercial lines. Many attempts have been made during recent years to supersede or modify the conditions of the freezing process, but though patents without number have been taken out for processes designed to abolish freezing chambers, few of them have proved worth anything. The majority of inventors have striven for the preservation of perishble products by chemical means, but as a rule it has been found that food subjected to chemical processes has been prejudicially affected in colour or taste, or both. Latterly inventors have devoted themselves to the question of sterilising, which process, applied, say, to beef intended to be carried to a "chilling" temperature, from the time of killing to the day of landing at tlio wharf, and alfO applied to the ships' chambers in which the meat is conveyed, should prevent the formation of mould on

the surface of meat and so prolong its "life" considerably. Quantities of chilled beef brought from South America arc ruined owing to its mould, which gradually eats into the meat. The most successful venture made in providing sterilising appliances is that of Mr J. A. Lindley, whose plant is installed at the Southhampton cold stores. After severe tests were applied, a company was formed (The ImvprovedChilling Company), and recently some quarters of Argentine beef, having passed through the process for an hour, were kept in the store tinder ordinary conditions for a week, and were then sent to Smithfield Market, together with some quarters from the same ship that had not been treated. The state of the former, compared with the untieated beef, was so favourable that no doubt could be entertained of the value of the process. Messrs W. Weddel and Co. are, I understand, associated with this sterilising process, and giving it financial support, so we may be fairly certain that there ?'» '' something in it.''