Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MAY 1, 1911. GRADING OF FROZEN MEAT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10226, 1 May 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MAY 1, 1911. GRADING OF FROZEN MEAT.

, ' ' •. "So- ■'. •> Wh%n Mr W. D. ..Jjysnar, of Gisborne, recently addressed the farro.ers of .Masterton/'lie advocated the institution of a system of Government grading of frozen meat. The managing director of one of the local freezing companies opposed the proposal, on the ground that the present system was satisfactory. It is significant that, within a few weeks of the visit of Mr Lysnar, evidence should be forthcoming which shows the absolute necessity for reform in the system of grading. Reports which have come to hand from the Old Country indicate that the lamb market "has been/ seriously affected in consequence? of the inferior quality of the article sent Home this season. It need hardly be said that, once ,the standard of our produce goes down, it will be an exceedingly difficult matter to restore confidence, and the [Argentine and other competing countries will take the fullest advantage of pur.'.misfortune. The i plea of shortage of feed is no excTi.se .whatever ■ for the grading of lambs which are ; in reality / second-rate "stores, *' as "first quality lamb." It is true that, in the middle portion oj tlw present, season, feed was not

so plentiful in. the lower parts of the North Island as it might havevbeen. There was no justification, however, for buyers paying 13s 6d per head for lambs which would not turn the scale at 301b, and for the grading of these as "first quality." The position is so serious, affecting as it does one of the most important in.dustries of the Dominion, that unless the Companies, decide upon a standard for grading, and observe this in its integrity, the Government will be compelled to take action. The Dominion cannot afford to allow a staple export to <be permanently injured through unhealthy rivalry or faulty grading.