THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1910. THE GRADING OF MEAT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10015, 11 April 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1910. THE GRADING OF MEAT.

The discussion that ensued, on Satur- ; day afternoon last, at the meeting of the General Committee of the Maaterton A. " and P. Association, j upon receiving a communication i from the Gisborne branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union in reference to the important question of grading meat was of an interesting character, and there is no doubt that considerably more will be heard concerning the proposal in the near future. The ' branch of the Union in question ' strongly recommended that a Govern- 1 n.ent grader should be appointed for ] the purpose mentioned. Why su:h i

a system has not already been adopted seems somewhat remarkable, for there does not appear to be anything objectionable in the system, while there are various reasons why it should be highly approved of. Certain printed matter was received with reference to the question by the A. and P. Association on Saturday, and amongst it an ably written article, published in the "Poverty Bay Herald." Our contemporary contends that grading has done so much for the upbuilding of the dairying and flaxmilling industries of this Dominion that it would appear to offer the best remedy for the many inequalities and injustices of which New Zealand pastoralists frequently complain in regard to the marketing of their produce in England. In xhe case of dairying, the determination of the Government to place its imprimatur in all produce rendered for export at first met with a good deal cf opposition from various parties interested, "but," says the "Herald," "we doubt whether, as the result,of ten years' operation of the grading system there could be found in New Zealand today a butter manufacturer or buyer who would favour a reversion to the old haphazard system of export. Ic was stated in the cablegrams from Sydney a few days ago that the butter factories delegates at a meeting there considered grading had been a failure, hub this view has been scouted by every New Zealand expert to whom the statement was submitted. Mr J. B. MacEwen, a leading authority, for instance, stated: 'I certainly do not look upon the system here as a failure. As far as New Zealand is concerned the grading of both cheese and butter has elevated the standard of quality very considerably. It has beea an incentive to the factory manager to improve his quality, for if he did not get first grade quality according to the Government grader his services would m all probability be dispensed with. Further, it has improved ttie business relations between here and outside countries to which we export dairy produce. These countries have sufficient confidence in cur grading system, and will accept a. Government grader's certificate as to quality and weights as final between buyer and seller. It has aiso produced increased competition in the markets, as firms have been able to establish connections outside of New Zealand, the fact 01 the grading being done by the Government making it posi sible for these firms to employ buyers who are not necessarily qualified to grade produce, Without a system of Government grading, these firms would have to employ experts 10r buyers, which would, of course, increase their expenditure. Finally, I am quite satisfied that the system of Government grading in operation here has greatly improved the qualityof our cheese and butler, and has had the effect of bringing all factories under I a more uniform working standard.' One of the best proofs of the value of independent grading by Government experts may be taken from the ' b fact that.within a few years of its r commencement less than 5 per cent, of the butter entered for export to r the United Kingdom was placed I lower than first-class—that is to say, " below eighty-eight points of excellence - out of a possible one hundred. So 1 also with cheese. This product has s to run the gauntlet of the Government graders, by whom more than 90 per cent, is now graded as firstclass. Statistics show that our ex--3 ports of dairy produce have enor- ] mously increased since the grading y system was instituted and prices run at a much higher average level. " In regard to flax, grading has been the salvation of the industry. It re- . moved once and for all the old evil 1 caused by the export of poor fibre, 3 badly dressed, to a market which was eager for the best. In face of the " keener competition of Manila hemp the New Zealand flax trade couH'not ■ hope to survive if the abuses of twenty years ago were possible of recurrence. Merchants in London \ and America are now able to purchase x with confidence that tne fibre will be - good, well prepared, and within a " few points of their requirements, , They can feel assured that raupo and other rubbish will not be imbedded in : the heart of the bale. Both in regard to flax and dairy produce, there is a 1 system of reporting defects back \ from the grading stores to the factories, so that no factory is working t in the dark and none may be excused for perpetuating errors, and herein lies one of the chief arguments in favour of the grading of meat—itß educative value. Reports sent back by the Government grader on every individual consignment as to weight, condition, shape of carcase, general appearance and colour, butchering and dressing, with general remarks, would be most valuable not alone to factory managers but to the growers of mutton, assisting the latter materially to develop their flocks along the most profitable lines. Producers would then be informed better than they are now why so many of their sheep are rejected from firstclass, and they would hav* opportunity of working up to definite standards. At present it is almost impossible to gauge what is required by the market, the various buyers having so many different standards of judgment. GradiDg would help the producers and it would help legitimate buyers also. It would place the sale of meat upon a much fairerand more equitable basis than

it is at present, and eliminate the possibility of abuses that undoubtedly occur on the London market, where New Zealanders are swindled out of many thousands of pounds every season."