HIGH QUALITY

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20257, 28 July 1937, Page 13

HIGH QUALITY

DOMINION MEAT EXPORTS.

MUTTON AND LAMB PREMIUM. 'Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Meat Producers’ Board, In It* annual report, stresses the need for continued efforts to maintain and Improve the standard of quality. During the year, the report 6tate«. the supervision of the grading of all classes of meat at the various freezing works has received the usual cloae attention by the Board's supervising graders and the loading and discharge of vessels has also received careful inspection by the Board's officers. The attention which has been given to the grading by the Board is evidenced by the fact that quality claims are today rarely heard of. The efficiency of our grading system must inspire confidence in buyers.

“The district fat lamb competition inaugurated by the Board with the object of improving the quality of export lambs has proved to be of great educative value to farmers, and serves as an excellent medium for advertising our lambs when displayed on the stalls in Smithfleld. The large gatherings of farmers at the freezing works where the lambs are treated prior to being shipped Home, demonstrate the interest which is now being taken in this competition throughout the Dominion. "The Board would again take the opportunity of referring to the most useful work the agricultural and pastoral associations and freezing companies are doing In arranging these field days in connection with the competition. and generally co-operating with the Board in handling all details. "In addition to the district lamb competition, the Board offers substantial prizes at the annual Royal Show with a view to encouraging further inprovement in the quality of our fat stock. Brltleh Comment. “Last year the Imperial Economic Committee at Home issued a very important mutton and lamb survey, being a summary of production and trade in the Empire and foreign countries. The following extract, taken from this report, is of particular interest to every New Zealand sheep* farmer. “ ‘New Zealand products obtain in the United Kingdom, a premium over those of other mutton an-d lamb exporting countries, due to the fact that her sheep conform closely to the popular English mutton breeds, to the strict grading, and to the reputation whioh her mutton and lamb enjoy.^

“Every endeavour must be mads by the farmers of this Dominion to see that this premium is maintained or Increased. especially as other countries are gradually Improving their quality. Under such conditions of increasing competition in respect of quality our relative superiority would tend to disappear unless further efforts are made. New Zealand can ill afford to lose sight of the fact that her reputation has been built and maintained on quality, and it cannot be stressed too much that we must maintain that quality at all costs, and thereby hold our supremacy In the mutton and lamb trade of the world. The more prime quality meat we can ship, the greater will be the permanent asset we shall thereby create in the enhanced reputation of the Dominion’s meat.” “Our competitors.” says the report dealing with the publicity campaign at Home, "are making noticeable Improvements In their best lambs and It will he fatal for New Zealand to rest on her laurels.”