The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1918 MEAT INDUSTRY REVELATIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 December 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1918 MEAT INDUSTRY REVELATIONS.

(With whicia is incorporated The Taihape Poat t-fld Walcmslio Newß).

In, the future of this Dominion's meat trade lies the future of the country itself, therefore anything affecting the meat trade cither detrimentally or advantageously gives strongest reflection on the life and welfare of the whole community. We have from time to time pointed out that perfection of the industry in other sheep-raising f countries, .and the bringing into profitable pasturage millions of acres which before the war contributed nothing to the economics of the world may very seriously disturb the tenor of our meat ways. The seeming disregard of producers of meat in New Zealand for what happens to their product after it leaves their pastures, and the limitless trust they place in those who carry their meat and those through whose hands it passes on its way to market has hot passed unnoticed. Under the heading of "The Efficiency of the Frozen Meat Trade," Mr. G. D. L. James contributes an article in the "New Zealand Journal of Science iand Technology,"- which should be reprinted at Government expense and a copy should be placed in the hands of every •farmer who sends an animal to any freezing works. Mr. James takes his text from the report that it has been, decided in London that a "Scientific Board of Research is to be set up to investigate the subject of the cold storage of meat, and that two Australasian rcpresentiatives are ko be on the Board." That the frozen meat industry, is ..to an extent being put on its trial is shown in the fact that some sheep ihave been slaughtered in England,- stored for one hundred and sixty ''days,.- thawed out, and then bactcriologically examined. |lt is a surprising fact, states Mr. James, that our frozen-meat industry has been allowed to continue for so many years without a t/Irroough scientific and practical investigation. Producers are reminded that there is ample room for improvement, but no room for the slightest increase in the cost of production. There is a limit to the position New Zealand producers have moved in, and Mr. James points out that had it not been for the great war that limit would have been reached. He says the crisis has only postponed our awakening. Other stock producing countries have en-

viously been establishing meat works and improving their meat producing breeds with the one purpose of wresting our markets from us, and the weight of all this may be felt as conditions return to normal. It must never be forgotten that fell other meat producing countries are nearer the Home market than we are. But Mr James gives another aspect of the meat export trade which, in the form he puts his facts, constitutes >a revelation of a somewhat startling character. After dealing most clearly and convincingly with his subject he finishes 'with a statement' of the question, which, he says, "Is not what have been our total losses during the history of our frozen-meat industry, but what will be our future losses uulfess this matter receives s the earnest practical attention of those to whom we entrust the welfare of our Dominion." There is no room for increased cost of production; it is realised that competition will become so keen as to affect present high prices; that increased cost of labour will result in higher cost of handling from farm to butcher's block and that improvement of stocks in meat producing countries much nearer the Home market will bring this Dominion's meat down from the high position it has hitherto held. We cannot prevent the trend of wages and competition but we can look to our business methods with a view to securing much greater efficiency. By the haphazard acceptance of arbitrary estimates the loss per annum is most alarming; of (5,920,829 sheep which left New Zealand pastures in 1916-17 only 6,216,082 reached the Home market, calculated by arbitrary methods. Here is a descrepancy of 704,74" carcases. Errors in location of works accounts for five per cent, loss through railing and droving, but the accepted arbitrary loss in dead weight of 6 per cent, and a further loss by evaporation in transit of another 2 per cent, resulted in a loss

to producers in 1016-17 of 531.726

carcases. No less than 126.858 carcases of mutton evaporated in transportation in the one year; two sheep froru every hundred evaporated between New Zealand and London. Is it not tinre that loss between hot and cold weight, iand .evaporation ppr centage were reduced to something approaching scientific exactitude? The loss to farmers is 704,747 carcases a year, and if by greater efficiency that loss could be reduced by oneseventh, Mr James points out, there would be an increased profit of £25,000. Charges for handling, slaughtering, bagging and shipping have to be paid for 704,747 sheep that disappear in evaporation and other arbitrary per centages between the farm and the market. The more efficient methods would, by a period of testing and supervision, indicate how losses could be reduced, and a period of systematic observation would for ever decide the truth about evaporation. Mr James states that if shipping companies are not prepv-id to guarantee that they will maintain a proven basis and take the on as, then it is ti. ".c that our Government shond step in and protect the ind istry by providing transports. After -his most able exposition Mr James' hope that shipping companies might stop the evaporation of 126,858 carcases of mutton from their ships each year is Teally subject for marvel. Most people have long ago lost all hope of again receiving consideration from shipping firms who can and do double their total capital wtih one year's earnings. The solution of satisfactory and ample transit lies in producers having their own ships or, better, that the State establish a line that would not be used, like our railways, for mere profit-making, but as a public service that would ensure extension of the producing capacity of the country and increase the general prosperity by much higher returns for what we have to export. It is not the reported research in London on the relative Aveights 'of hot and cold meat that is going to be of any value to our producers, and Mr James makes this very clear. Figures demonstrate to certainty that improvement must be sought at this end. JProducion must be increased; there are thousands of acres that are carrying next to nothing, and there are many farmers where same labour and appliances could deal with a much greater number of stock, but these can be righted. The most serious loss that needs immediate attention is that between the live stock and the mutton sold.' The evaporation between New Zealand and England, in one season, of 126,858 -.'arcases ought not to be regarded as a joke; such leaky ships need replacing. It is time N<'\v Zealand abandoned the old haphazard growth of arbitrary per centages end established something more :ust and profitable; submit the old happy-go-lucky methods to a thorough, practical and scientific investigation, and it will be found that the annual loss to producers by evaporations and otherwise will be very considerably less th'in 704,747 carcases, valued roughly at £175,000. Let future losses be cut down to the irreducible minimum.