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40
1919.
SMITHFIELD AND OTHER MARKETS.—The following is Mr. T. Dunlop
Young's summary of the actual meat inspection work. The supplies deposited
for sale within the Central Markets, Smithfield, for the year ending 31st December,
1919, as shown by the Annual Report of the Market Superintendent, were as follows:
Source of Supply.
Tons of
Beef and Veal.
1918 1919
Tons of
Mutton and Lamb.
1918 1919
Tons of
Pork and Bacon.
1918 1919
Tons of
Poultry, Game, etc.
1918 1919
Tons.
Totals.
1918 1919
United Kingdom 49,456 66,260 24,590 23,186 2,648 1,902 13,838 15,431 90,532 106,779
Australia and
South Africa } 4,656 11,724 16,622 47,166 6 16 5,351 4,343 26,635 63,249
South America 23,953 68,362 8,493 16,364 147 1,195 274 138 32,867 86,059
North America 50,145 28,265 38 69 6,786 4,752 2,807 4,350 59,779 37,436
Other Countries 10 343 1 .... 15 11 1,251 1,169 1,277 1,523
Totals 128,220 174,954 49,744 86,785 9,605 7,876 23,521 25,431 211,090 295,046
1913 231,811 138,614 35,634 26,052 432,111
For comparative purposes, the year 1913 (being the last complete pre-war
year) has been taken. It will be observed that there is a decrease of 137,065 tons
and reference to the Board of Trade figures for the same periods shows a decrease
of 193,000 tons of frozen and chilled meat imported during 1919. We are, therefore,
far from being back to normal conditions. Again referring to the Board of Trade
figures it will be observed that 528,354 tons of frozen and chilled meat were imported,
and of that quantity 178,267 tons or about 34 per cent. passed through
the Central Markets.
GENERAL REMARKS.—The quality of the imported meat passing through
the Market has been "very fair" but "condition" has caused a considerable
amount of extra work to the Inspectors. Those remarks apply chiefly to mutton.
Under "Control," only arranged quantities of each class of food were marketed
daily. This resulted in quantities of mutton, which in normal times would have
been marketed with all its bloom, arriving in the Market Cold Stores, etc., in a
mouldy and decomposing condition, necessitating careful examination, much
"trimming" and also increased condemnation. The practice of cutting carcases
of mutton into two portions and enclosing the one within the other, has added to
the amount of meat condemned; no doubt in time this practice will cease, to the
benefit of the consignors. Bacon also gave the Inspectors extra work, and large
quantities of this food were found unfit for human consumption, while much of it,
passed as fit for food, was far from being satisfactory.
The meat derived from the United Kingdom was not generally of so high
a quality as in pre-war years. This was due to a number of causes, but chiefly to
the fact that animals were graded and sold at a fixed rate according to grade,
and as feeding stuffs were costly there was no inducement to farmers to produce
exceptionally high quality cattle.
The foregoing conditions are the aftermath of the war, and as more normal
conditions return, we may expect better "quality," better "condition," and
more food supplies at the Markets.
IMPORTATIONS FROM AUSTRALIA.—While some of the meat imported
from Australia was up to the usual standard, quantities of mutton arrived which,
judged by its quality, came from the districts where the drought was considered
the worst on record. The carcases were so devoid of fat as to be unsuitable for
freezing and subsequent defrosting, and quantities had to be taken as unmarketable.
These carcases in the fresh condition in the abattoirs, looked very fair, but after
being frozen, then defrosted and handled, appeared unmarketable and would not
be recognised by the original owner or the inspector of the abattoirs.
The total amount of frozen meat imported from Australia during 1919 appears
to be 121,168 tons, of which 85,930 tons were mutton and lamb and 52,097 tons
were beef.
NEW ZEALAND.—Mutton and lamb arriving from New Zealand maintained
its usual high standard of quality, and the demand for "Canterbury