MEAT AND WOOL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10685, 31 December 1925, Page 3

MEAT AND WOOL

CONDITIONS IN 1925.

REVIEW BY DR. REAKES

1 WELLINGTON, December 30. i"The meat freezing, season closed rather earlier than usual owing to unfavourable weather," said Dr. O. J. Keakes, Director-General of Agriculture, to-day in reviewing the year. "This caused a slight reduction in lamb killings, otherwise the output in the main classes exceeded that of the preceding year, especially in beef. The killings aggregate 1,750,164 carcases of lamb, 1,271,221 carcases of wether mutton, 953,042 carcases of ewe mutton, 458,549 quarters of beef, 263,378 freight carcases of boneless beef and 35,753 carcases of pork. The record prices for fat sheep and lambs held to the end of the season and beef prices maintained their improvement. "The new season has opened with prices for frozen sheep and lambs sevieral pence below the 1924-25 average. "As regards wool," proceeded the Director, "the market continued to fall , for 1924-25 clip from the abnormally ] high opening level until the end of the season. Very good average prices were j obtained by growers, however, the clip realising several pence per pound above I that of the preceding season. Moreover, the clip generally was a wellI grown one of good weight. The volume lof the clip was returned as 591,674 I bales. The new season's clip is reportj ed to be rather below par in quality I and weight, while growers are having I to accept considerably lower prices for ! their wool even compared with closing rates of the previous season. "While pastoral producers were very fortunate last season the reverse was the case with meat and wool-buying interests in general. In both cases heavy losses were sustained, one effect of which is evidently reacting on prices this season. New Zealand-owned freezing companies doing a. buying business, in particular, have had a most difficult and anxious year. Some, indeed, are finding it difficult to stand up against their reverses, and the whole position of this industry gives ca<use for some concern. Very careful handling of the situation is required "