MEAT FOR THE ARMY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 80, 4 December 1913, Page 4

MEAT FOR THE ARMY.

|TIio Auckland “Star” expresses tlie omnion Dint one of the worst reverses that the New Zealand exnort trade in frozen meat has yet sustained is the decision of the British War Olliee to exclude mutton from the service ra-

tions of the Army, ami goes on to say: Tins announcement was made in September, and it naturally caused a great deal of surprise and indignation among the people chiefly interested in bur frozen meat exports, the High Commissioner was up in arms at once, and, with characteristic energy, he addressed a strong remonstrance to the \V ar Office. He pointed out the high quality of New Zealand frozen meat, referred to its well-es-tablished and increasing popularity, and suggested that if the troops did. not like the “colonial” mutton provided for them this must be due either to carelessness in thawing and cooking the meat or to the substitution of some inferior brand for “Prime Canterbury.” The War Office replied promptly and politely enough that it was quite satisfied with the quality of the frozen meat hitherto supplied to the troops, and that the only reason mutton was being cut out of the army bill of fare was that the troops j very much preferred beef. Mr Mac-1 kenzie was not content with this, and. wrote again insisting on the remark-[ able excellence of New Zealand mutton and offering to arrange for a test by submitting colonial meat properly defrosted and cooked to the troops without any expense to the War Department. But the "NVar Office could not see its way to accept a suggestion that “would involve trouble and expense only to prove what is already universally accepted as correct, viz.— the excellence of the quality of New Zealand mutton,” and assured ouri High Commissioner that its decision had been reached only after careful consideration in accordance with the preference expressed by the men. However, Mr Mackenzie, with his genuine enthusiasm for everything colonial, finds it hard to imagine how anybody could possibly object to New Zealand mutton, and he has written once more to the War Office expressing the hope that our mutton will still have a chance of inclusion in the army ration list for next year. There, for the time being, the matter stands; but we must own that we share Mr Mackenzie’s doubt, as to whether this extraordinary and inexplicable proceeding is due to blind prejudice or official bungling or to the cast-iron conservatism of the average Englishman, who finds it extremely difficult to believe that anything to which he is not accustomed can possess the slightest Value.