FROZEN MEAT TRADE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume 49, Issue 7764, 5 August 1921, Page 4

FROZEN MEAT TRADE

I NEXT SEASON’S PRICES. Christchurch, Aug. 3 Exceptionally large quantities of meal have been shipped from the Dominion, and there is now not a great proportion of last year’s killings in store. Allotments of shipping space have now been severely cut down, and there are only about ! six refrigerated •'Vessels so far in sight for this mouth. Shipments during July were very large, although not a record., They i comprised 1,040,000 lamb carcases, 700,000 carcases cf mutton, and 30, 000 quarters of b:ef. In about 10 days or a fortnight large stocks of meat will be unloaded on the Sniithfield market. Exporters are naturally anxious, for there is always the possibility that values will be-affected. There is a f-fling that values next season will be on a lower level, and it. is probable. on account of this, that there will be no desire to hold meat .in th ■ Dominion. The future decidedly uncertain. Speculating on probable prices, one exporter said : “It is idle to make an estimate based on the artificial prices in the artificial period created by the war and immediate post-war conditions. In the case’ ( t New Zealand lamb the average price at Smithfield for some years before the war was s.\d per lb. Prices rose, the peak being reached

by the controlled price of Is lAd iu 1918. There are now higher wages and higher costs than before the war, and, taking this into consideration, 1 expect the pnee next season will be from 8d to 81cl per lb.” Acm in freights next season is anticipated ill Ihe trade. At the present time the .cost of handling, freezing, and sending meat to Smithfield is 4cl per lb. It might t. possible to. get this down to 2TI per lb. Under such circumstance:farmers could expect abe at 15s 6d fer a 3Clb. lamb. Mnmfostb-, die farmer will need 10 reduc:- his tanning cost- if this condition cf aF'd’-s is experienced.