GRADING OF LAMBS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10226, 1 May 1911, Page 5

GRADING OF LAMBS.

A SERIOUS POSITION. REFORM URGENTLY REQUIRED. "Prices have been seriously affected by the inferior quality of lamb coming from New Zealand." So read a Home report which was published broadcast throughout Australia and other parts of the world in the middle of last month. A representative of the Wairarapa Age made inquiries. "Is it true," t he asked the Manager of a wellknown freezing company, "that lambs of an inferior quality have been sent Home this season as first grade?" "Judging from the reports it would seem as though it were," was the reply. "Has your company been buying inferior stock?" "Well, we have found others buying it and shipping it Home, and we hay# been compelled,,, for our own protection, to follow suit. We have, however, established a special grade for this stock, and., have not shipped it under our usual brand..',',"Then you have graded your output properly. Have others done the same?" "I .canWfc say, but I should think not. I have heard of settlers getting 13s Od per head for lambs which were in reality stones." "What is the cause of this position of affairs'? Is it entirely due to shortage in feed? " "Not entirely. It. is due largely to competition." "Is this a desirable thing in the interests of the frozen meat trade?" "I should say not. It is very undesirable. But how would you stop it?" "Would not an efficient system of grading have t'he desired effect?" "That is the only thing. That is what we pin our faith to." The Age representative pursued his investigations. A prominent breeder was interviewed.' Could he offer an explanation of the decline, in the quality of lamb sent Home this season ? "Explanation! Yes, it is to be. found in the competition among the buyers. Why, I have seen lambs sent to the works which I would not. buy as stores. Come with me," he said, "and have a look at these." There were several trucks of sheep on the train, and the Age man examined them. i "Are those going to the freezing works?" "Of course they are. They are a disgraceful lot. I would not have them as stores. Is there any.won-: der that the trade is being' damaged ? Some of • those lambs would not go 281bs. 'thee average season, I am prepared' to say, has not been more than 321bs. There is something radically wrong. , It is the duty of the Pres"s to draw atten- . tion to the matter." "What proportion of the stock sent away has,-in your opinion, been of inferior quality?" "From what I have seen, I should say a'large proportion of it has not been up to the standard." Enquiries made from other settlers corroborated the statements made above, and the Age man subsequently sought an interview with a grader of one of the works. "Is it a fact that poor quality lambs are being exported this season?" "It is undoubtedly a fact. So far as oUr works are concerned, however, we do not send anything inferior as first grade. We are very particular in that respect." "Do you think it right to send inferior stuff to the Old Country?" "Certainlyviiot." ■■.. \ t . ■ "How would you prevent it?" "I would make the system of grading such that lambs below a certain standard would be absolutely rejected. The companies should take concerted action in the matter."