THE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9920, 28 December 1897, Page 5

THE MARKETS.

THE FROZEN MEA.T TRADE.

Unite 1 I'i'cw Association -By Electric TelegraphCopyright. Received December 27tU, 9.50 a.m. London, .December 26. Mutton — Crossbred wethers and maiden ewes, Canterbury 3fd, Dun#din and Southland 2 15 16ths d, Worth Island 2|d. Lamb is not quoted. River Plate crossbreds or merino aethers, heavy and light, 2£d. Received December 28th, 12.25 a.m. Weddel's Annual Review of the meat trade states that the chief cause of the unfortunate position of frozen meat is over supply and dofective condition. On the whole, however, the quality of mutton acd lamb in 1897 has been bettor than it was in 1896. The imports have increased 10 per cent. Over 45 per cent, of the Australian cargoes were damaged, compared with 6 per cent, from the Argentine. It is estimated that the Australian loss through damage is Id per stone on 750,000 sheep above the insurance and re- j coverable. The Ileiitw suggests that drastic alterations should be made in the preparation of meat and its transport, including a careful survey at the port of shipment and the institution of differential rates of freight according to ships possessing records as meatcarriers. The Jlirrii'w concludes by declaring that prospects are fairly hopeful. The Colonial Consignment Company elso has issued a circular dealing with the year's trade, in which it states that the bane of the trade has been damage by the off-colour of carcases. If frozen meat were shipped immediately after being slaughtered and promptly disposed of here this would go far to revive prosperity.