ARGENTINE SUBSTITUTED FOR N.Z. LAMB.

Shannon News, 4 October 1929, Page 2

ARGENTINE SUBSTITUTED FOR N.Z. LAMB.

At the Greenwich Police Court on July 29 the case was concluded in which Henry .Wickens and Sons, Limited, butchers, of High Street, Poplar, were summoned under the Merchandise Maries Act for offering a false trade description to lamb- supplied to the Greenwich and Deptford Poor Law Institution. Henry Wickens anid Company, Ltd., had the contract for the supply of meat. The contract stipulated for dx of the best brands of New Zealand lamb. The master of the institution had not been satisfied with the quality for some time, and on May 7th -when two carcases were supplied of inferior quality, the master put himself in touch with Mr R. S. Forsyth (London manager of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board) who immediately took action and had the ir.eat inspected by three experts who pronounced it inferior Argentine lamb. The breasts of the earcases had been trimmed in order to remove the indelible mark of Argentine which always appears on the meat, and in its place had been used the C.M.'C. cover and wire labol in order to cover up the description.

The case lasted two days, a number of witnesses being including Mr Forsyth and Mr Gordon (of the New Zealand Meat Board). The contractors pleaded “Not guilty,” and swore that the New Zealand quality was supplied, but after very short consideration (the Magistrate found them guilty and imposed the maximum penalty of £2O and 20 guineas- costs.

Due publicity is being given by the New Zealand Meat Board to the prosecution in all the principal trade papers, with the view of acting as a warning and deterrent against the objectionable practice of substitution and deception.