PRICE OF MEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 6

PRICE OF MEAT.

FTTRTKEB. RISE XTNUKE-T. SCARCITY OK FAT STOCK. A report from Wellington that another rise in the pries? of meat is imminent, caused inquiries to be made in Auckland by a representative of the "Star." It has been stax-ed that the rise in Wellington is due to heavy buying in that district for the Auckland market. This proves to be a Tact, as owing to the dry summer and autumn, Auckland buyers were in the Wellington district much earlier than usual this season. The result has been to force up prices of cattle ami sheep down South, as high as £15 10/ per head being paid on .Saturday at Mangawcka for fa-t cattle, and , 25/ per head for fat sheep, all bought foT the Auckland market.

Housekeepers wffl, however, be pleased to learn that it is not an-ticipar.ed there will be n further rise in the retail price of meat in Auckland. The inquiries made bo-day el-rcitcd tie information that as far as Auckland is concerned, -the rates for pork, veal, and mutton advanced last week a. farthing and a halfpenny per ponnd; wliile beef was unal-t ored in price. The present scarcity is stated not to he due so much to a shortage of cattle in the Auckland district, a a In the boarcky of fat beasts fit fur the maTkct. There are. it snems. plenty of cattle in the Auckland dis-.tr'.C.. -but. the difficulty is to get Miem fat enough to kill. The posit-ion was explained by the head of a large mest purveying firm as follows: -

"It is only the farmcre who had turnips for winter feed who now have fat cattle to sell, and they, knowing the vilue of the animal*, demand high prices. It is quite true Auckland buy ens have been in -the Wellington district after sheep and cattle for the last three month's. We had to go there earlier than usual on account of the dry summer and autumn. •Nad not -the cold weather set in with the rain, the pas! urn would have been all right for tbe winter. As it was, there has bpen very little growth, and those who depended on ordinary pasture to Tat ten the cattle and y-hoe.p have made a mistake. Still, I don't think it- likely there will be any further advance in price retail. ,Ik the sun is now gert-ing Rome heat in it. This should shortly mean rapid growth on the pasture after euch a long Test, and then there ■will be plenty of catilp find sheep fit for the market."