Notes of the Day

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3804, 15 April 1913, Page 4

Notes of the Day

IS THERE MUCH GROUND FOR

COMPLAINT?

There was recent'y in'Christchurch a. Home merchant who, unlike Mr W. 1). Lysnar. does not think that there is much, to complain of with reference to the conditions under wlii< h irozen meat from this country finds its way on to the Home market. nis gentleman iis Mr R. B. Bennett, the New Zealand representative of the firm of Messrs H. 6. Fitter and Co., of London. His observations. be told a southern reporter, did not confirm the teliarges made; indeed, they constituted' a complete refutation. What Mr Bennett said in effect was that he did not affirm for a moment that in the handling of frozen meat, or, for tin; matter of that, any other class of produce, they had reached perfection either in the colonies or at Home, but be was sceptical whether much more could bo done without substantially increasing the cost of handling. and. of course, wore the companies to invest large sums in bringing about improvements, the cost must ultimately be borne by the consumer. He did not think for a moment that the cost to the consumer should be increased by lavish expenditure from which be would receive practically no benefit. Mr Bennett said, further, that there was nothing in the complaint as to delay in barging from the vessel to the docks. No matter whether the barges wore fully loaded or not, he said they left tin? vessel's side every night, and less than a couple of hours sufficed to take them to their destination. As to the damage to shanks it was, continued Mr Bennett, absurd to say that all the harm was done at Home. Quite recently he had had an opportunity of observing operations in Wellington, when meat was being placed aboard the Ruapehu, and. although he had stood by for only a quarter of an hour, be had sih-ji four shanks broken. The average Englishman was a good judge of meat, but he would never be frightened by a broken shank. Mr Bennett also said that, despite all assertions to the contrary, London must be the Dominion’s chief customer, since the British metropolis was at all times prepared to take all classes oi meat, the heavy, the fat, and the lean. In the provinces the position was entirely different, as there only the leaner carcases of sheep and the smaller lambs would find an outlet. That was the reason why the South American article found a' move ready market in the provinces, as it was not nearly as heavy as that sent from the colonies.