HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8790, 10 February 1914, Page 5

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

WELLINGTON, February 9. Jhe Department .of Industries and Commerce has received the following cable message from the High Commissioner, dated London, February 7. The quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market prices on the spot:—

frozen Meat.—Generally speakinir prices ror mutton and lamb have'" de~. dined on account of'dull ti-ade.'and; owm^to large shipments of Australian' and New •• Zealand. These shipments' last month were 70 per cent, above those of January of last year. Mutton. 7"H rtiVjsland> *4d per lb, ewes 4Jd. Lamb—Other than Canterbury', 6Jd. Beef—Stock of New Zealand beef 'unhand are light, with a moderate demand. New Zealand hindquarters 4£d ■ forequarters 4d ; cWM] hindquarters. 4Jd, iorequarters „3i<J, River- t Plate* shipments recei^bd duriiig January were:— - ■■■'(■■<' * Ihifcton. Lamb. " .. ' Carcases. Carcases. 63,825 36,115 Liverpool 73,014 32,094' Hull 5,059 2,415 Southampton ... 14,205 5,492' Plymouth .... ... 1,820 221

Totals Jan., 1914 138,933 76,335: ' »lotals, Jan., 1913 272,839 75,766 Butter.—The market is unchanged*. The demand is improving, but prices are unchanged for New Zealand. For Danish the market is quiet, but steady at 123s to 126s per cwt. For New Zealand the market is quiet, but steady at 113s to 116s; unsalted, 118s to 120s. Australian is in fair demand at 109s to 112s. For Argentine the market is steady at 110s,to 112s. Siberian is in good demand, at .110s to 112s. Cheese.—The market is weaker and prices are slightly lower. Complain^ is ■ made by the trade that New. Zealand factories do not act in accordance with the instructions from merchants in making a proportion of white and coloured. Canadian white 68s" to 695; coloured 71s to 725. The New . Zealand market is slow; white 63s to 645, coloured 65s to 665; deep red- 68s- to 70s: ' The estimated stocks, of Canadian cheese at London, Liverpool and - Bristol ok February 2, was ]23,000 boxes, against 210,000 at same time last year. New- ' Zealand and Australian stocks at London and Bristol are 12,700 crates, asrainst 14,000 at the same time 'lasSl''yea.r. ' Cocksfoot.—The market is quiet bnt steady, and there is a better demand for New Zealand owing to the absence of Danish offers. "Wool.—Business in tops is apparently improving and the" market -is steadier. Current Bradford quotations are:—46's'low crossbreds lojd,-.-40)s-low;. crossbreds lojd, 44's medium crossbreds' ifiki, oO's halfbreds I9£d, 56's quarterbreds 21-2 d, 50's merino 27id.