HOME MEAT PRICES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18204, 15 October 1924, Page 10

HOME MEAT PRICES.

PROSPECTS FOR NEXT SEASON. VESTEY'S OPERATIONS. ''"son o"?. ow>; coH?.rsr:•:■-:m.' LONDON". £ir Philip P>. Prc-tr.r. K.8.E.. of Messrs Brothers. Ltd.. returned to London an-.-r New Zealand and Aiistr: lia : n th.e interests of his nrni. It is -i:< M'-m!:* Since he was in the Domini.-.::. "Jr- iire) time havinc: l,cen spr-r.i it". Austraiai. ".•~o Tar as trio si-:e?-r. fa.trr.vrs iu ->'- lV Zealand aro eoi-.r.-rr.ed," said s'" Philip in ;i conversation I i'?- 1 -' w ' in b:m y.:-s:erdv. "they scora. to ; e- onj y-ii-.ji aitottier )>eriod r.f ro:u; arative prosperity as regards both lneat va.lue> ■■■Td \ ;vij T vai ■:(•-. Tiie r<xx-nt ii-e in the market for iamb he-re, do.'- to a camDarative searcity 01 sii"-Cilies. may ;;«r----liap.s eN'-iie very' views of ilio vaiuo ',-f lamb at tiie \yc' ! x.]v.r.t\y r s. of nextseason. It would op wis-e. th---refore, to bear i?i mind that lamb still commands a value- out of a'l proportion to tiie value- of beef, which is still the staple article of meat diet. Tliat i>. if can ii'-i £'>o-I l>ee-i oheap; they will limit j their demand for lumb. It is also well i te> bear in mind that London hnyer.I rlurini; the oast two seasons iun.e lo'-t ; l;-'-avilv on b th mutton and lamb, while the producers have had no eaoise- f' i' ! c-'inpliiint about tho prices tbt-y have b.eu getlinii. I ••p'oi-tunatelv. Nov.' Zeaiond la.iuo quite- maintnins its supremacy in tlie t-.ilirn tior. i,f tiie public and will r-o:i----tmue to do -o so long f..s the New Zeahind fanner devotes the rare and attention nr-cessary to maintain chc<juaiitv r.-f t!:e breeris. 'lbe lamb has certainly improved sine;" the war ev.dr.'i to the use of Down rams. Australian Supply. "The export from Australia this season." said Sir Philip, "is not likely to l>t> heavy owing \ a weather conditions, and the ik-maud for resux-kiiig. and it rloe-s not appear likely that tiiere will !.<•■ any burden of olri sti/r-ks on this market by the- time the hist shipments arrive from New Zealand. '•J might add," »>ir Philip said in conclusion, "that during my recent visit to the DominioTi I was very much surprised with the suspic'.on with which the operations of my finn were regarded by many of the farmers. There seemed to l>e an idea that we were s»«c.U(-in : i2 a much larger ])rop-ortio!i of the iratle than was actually the e:u=o. Althouiih ;ve have three out of twenty odrl troezing wrjrks in the Xorth Islsi.nd rmr actual purchases, this season amounted to less than seven per cent. of the output of lamb and less than five per cent, of the output of mutton. V>e froze other quantities, of emtrse. for clients, but we had no control over the marketing cf this produce." Merging of Freezing Works. In an intei-riew with a representative of the "Imperial Food Journal'' Sir Philip Proctor discussed ■ the question of the redundant, meat freezing work-.; in the Dominion. ''While it is admitted hy everybody.'' ho says, "that at the present time the numl)ei of freezing works is in excess of the needs of th.?. 7>ominion, it is going to be a very difficult matter to deal with the existing interests out there on a basis which would enable some of the works to 1» closed and n.fc the same time satisfy the people who have invested tl«ir money in them. It. also has to be borne in mind that the farmers regard their own works not simply as a profitable investment, but bs a safeguard for their interests. Any scheme, to I* successful, would necessitate a guarantee of some sort that no further works would be erected, and it is very difficult to ses cither how such a guarantee could r>e given, or, indeed, would be justified. At the same iime, it is an undoubted fact that every one 01 the existing companies would wel- <• me some reduction in the present unrestricted competition, which has involved a great many freezing companies in unprofitable operations. In anv case, there is no likelihood of the New ZeaJand Government tztking legislative action to make the merging of works compulsory." Touching upon the Sew Zealand Meat Control Beard. iSir Philip Proctor said it had certainly aec-omrdished a good deal, although perhaps" not everything that the promoters hoped for when it was initiated. HARVEST WAGES. HEAVY DEMANDS IN AUSTRALIA. (BY CABLE— PRZSS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT) (AUSTRALIAN AHD N.Z. CABISE ASSOCIATION.) SYDNEY, October 14. Farmers are faced with a big wages bill during the forthcoming harvest. Under the new log issued by the Australian Workers' Union demands range from 13s to £1 5s a day, with keep, according to the quality of the work, with a daily wage of 18s 9d without keep. All casual labour will work a 48 hour week and have Saturday afternoon off. All overtime is to be paid at the rate of time and a half, Sundays and holidays double time. CURRENCY PROBLEM. WOOL POSITION IN AUSTRALIA, j (■T CABUS—PBSSB associatiok—copraioHT) (AUSTRALIAN ASD N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) SYDNEY, October 14. The weakness which has developed in connexion with the wool sales is! the outcome of uncertainly over the quest iou of exchange. Negotiations connected therewith, between directors of the Commonwealth Bank and representatives Of the associated banks, are proceeding in Melbourne, for the pooling of their resources, to enable them to finance Australia's wool and other products in the forthcoming seasonRegarding these negotiations, the chairman of the Board of Banks represented states that there was no danger of the Board departing from a sound currency basis, and at the same time protecting their own interests. Whatever the outcome of the negotiations there was no d,oubt every bale of wool would be sold and paid for. The negotiations were proceeding satisfactorily, and it was only a matter of the banks getting together to ensure tho success of the scheme. THE PROPERTY MARKET. Yesterday Messrs W. Q. Simee and Co. he-id a property and furniture auction sale on account of the trustees of tho late Klizabeth Smith. Tho property situated at 261 /Wilson's road and comprising & square house of 4 rooms and conveniences and iacre section was sold to Mr K. Wilson for £620, and the whole of the furniture -was sold at very satisfactory prices. j