MEAT SCHEDULE

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26886, 12 November 1952, Page 11

MEAT SCHEDULE

NO PREMIUM FOR EARLY LAMBS (New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NTH, Nov. 11. Fat lamb breeders attending the field day at the freezing works at Longburn learned that there would not be any premium on early lambs this season, and that the hold-up in announcing the new season’s meat schedule was attributable to the fact that the killing rates had not yet been fixed. Addressing producers, Mr L. A. P. Sherrill, a member of the Meat Board, said there had been many queries as to why the meat schedule had not been announced. The facts were that the Meat Board had announced the bare meat prices and it was now over to the operators to fix the schedule. What was holding up the announcement of the schedule was the fact that the killing rates had not yet been fixed. The Meat Board had favoured the proposal to pay a premium on early drafted lambs in order to relieve congestions at the works in the North Island. The South Island did not want a premium, as the position there was different. It was considered, however, that this was an important matter as far as the North Island was concerned, in order to get the killings started. Circumstances were most favourable this season for the operation of such a premium, as the quantity of meat in store was never lower. However, the idea of the premium had not been pursued, but ne hoped that it would be introduced next season. STOCK SALE TEMUKA “The Press” Special Service , . TIMARU, November 11. Quality varied considerably in a penning of more than 100 head of fat cattle offered at the Temuka sale today, but the demand was firm and values showed little change on recent sales. A large offering of well-bred store cattle met a very poor inquiry and the bulk of the offering was passed. An average penning of fat sheep met an erratic demand from butchers, but overall values were sound. Few store sheep were offered. Values were:— Fat Cattle.—Steers: prime heavy, £47 2s 6d to £5l 12s 6d; prime, £3B 2s 6d to £44 12s 6d; light to medium, £27 2s 6d to £33 17s 6d. Heifers: prime, £32 7s 6d to £3B 7s 6d; medium, £2B 7s 6d to £3l 17s 6d; light, £25 2s 6d to £27 17s 6d. Medium cows: £22 17s 6d to £26 7s 6d; light to £l9 17s 6d. Store Cattle.—Yearling steers and heifers, £9 7s 6d to £lO 10s; two-year steers. £l6 to £26 ss; empty cows, £lO to £2O. Fat Sheep.—Shorn wethers: prime, 62s Id to 69s lOd; light to medium, 55s Id to 61s lOd. Prime ewes: woollv, 53s Id to 62s lOd; shorn, 32s Id to 36s lOd. Medium ewes, shorn. 26s Id to 31s lOd; light shorn, to 255. Maiden ewes, to 49s Id. Store sheep: two-tooth ewes, to 465; shorn ewe hoggets, to 735; medium wether hoggets, 40s to 475. VEGETABLES AND FRUIT In spite of the heavy rainfall in the last week, supplies of vegetables are still coming forward in good quantity. A spell of fine weather now would bring on many plants and probably reduce prices for some lines. There are more potatoes available than for months; early potatoes are arriving in Christchurch in increasing quantities, and some retailers have found unsuspected sources of supply for old potatoes. The latter are being sold by some suburban grocers and greengrocers—usually only to their regular customers—in 21b bags. Retail Prices New Zealand potatoes (old crop), 3Jd per lb; new crop, Is per lb; onions, 6d per lb; spring onions, 6d a bunch; white turnips, 9d a bunch; carrots, 9d per lb; parsnips, 6d per lb; leeks. Is to Is 3d per lb; cauliflowers, 6d to Is each; spring cauliflowers, 2s each; spring cabbages, 9d to Is 3d; spinach. 8d to Is a bunch. Lettuce, 8d to Is each; ueetroot, 6d to 9d a bunch; garlic, 2d ner oz; green peas, Is to Is 6d per lb; hothouse tomatoes, 4s 6d to 5s 6d per lb; cucumbers, 3s per lb; radishes, 6d a bunch; asparagus, 2s a bunch; broad beans, 9d per lb. Wolseley apples, Sd per lb: Granny Smith apples. Is per lb; Sturmer apples, lOd per lb; Delicious apples, 10d to 1* per lb; dessert pears, is 2d per lb; rhubarb, Is 6d a bunch; tree tomatoes. Is 6d to 2s per Jb; gooseberries, 2s per Australian and South African oranges. Is 3d per lb; tangerines, Is 6d; mandarins, Is 6d; grapefruit. Is; Meyer lemons, Is Id; New Zealand lemons, Is 3d; marmalade oranges, 9d to Is; Australian lemons, Is 6d; Fijian pineapples, 4s to 6s.