THE FREEZING SEASON.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 6965, 21 January 1918, Page 4

THE FREEZING SEASON.

A Nominal Opening

Butchers Secure Stock

Nominally the 1918 freezing reason opened at Addington on Thur*daj week (says the Cbriatchurch Sun), but although exporters were in sttßtid- \ Bnce and obviously taking a keen in- 1 temt in the sale, they secured few lines nnd therefore the all-important, question of the rates which are to rule aa yet remains unsolved. The reason fir this abstinence was the small amount of stock available, a: d the consequent keen demand of the butcnare, who thus brought prices up tnucb abase the expected freezing rßtee. "I be fat cattle section contained a fair entry, but owing to the fact that the mutton supply was below local requirements, butchers bought | more than their usual share of beef. Exporters purchased a few he»d of cattle, but mostly of the cow beat description, which was neglected by butchers. A few lines of lamb also were obtained by the freetir.g companies. In no instance can the values realised be considered as a fair criterion of tbe standard which will rule. A ger.erßl impreasion at the Bale was (hat in tbe case of sheep -values paid ty exporters would be belo-w those at which last season opened. Exporters contend, in explanation ef this, that tbey will secure less this year for Hcoured woql and also for the skins At the same time, it can be said that this is largely a question of opinion. Certainly last season values soared above freezing rates. This, however, was largely because the compar-ies operating were securing high prices as the result of retail sales on the1 London market, a la-it which was stressed in the recent report of the Meat Trust Commieeion. Therefore it is probable that values are likely to be more down to the bedrock of the Government standard for this season ac the London anomaly has been largelylremoved. It would not appear that exporters will combine and fix a standard. This will be regulated and fixed by competition during the naxt few weeks. In the case of larube, for in'tance, they claim that they will be woikine laraely in the dark, as the price of pelti hta not yet been fixed. They mifeht ettsily lose, they say, 4a to 63 per dozen on theae when prices are announced. They have been purchasing lambs piior to to-ilay, but mostly for private customers. If the farmer ie dissatisfied with the freezing rates which will rule ut the markets, he has the remedy in his own hands. He can send bis sheep direct to the Imperial store and obtair the Government price for the meat itself. At present tbe main objection to this is that he \t possibly disadvantageous^ placed in regard to the disposal if by-products, and tfeat he does not obtain ttis. money uitil the meat 13 cleared. As far 83 the latter aspect is concerned, the works at present have tieen cleared, and the chances are that the meat will be got away early. In any cast* he could always secure an outside advance on the meat held on bis account in Btoffl. It may be that a fair quantity of stock will thua be sent in direct to the Imperial stores.