LONDON MEAT TRADE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27407, 21 July 1954, Page 7

LONDON MEAT TRADE

“SETTLING ]DOWN” REPORTED PROSPECTS FOR NEW ZEALAND EXPORTS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 20. The general impression of the meat trade is tnat “the position is settling down and prices are going to find a reasonable level.’’ From New Zealand’s point of view, it is reported that there is “plenty of demand’’ for lamb, while last week the shipment of chilled beef sold well—at prices equal to those for Scottish beef, although it is agreed that the latter sold rather below average. There is still a disinclination to give price ranges. The head of a big importing firm said “the position is a good deal clearer after the first fortnight of free marketing. I think the market will be steady for the time being at about its present level. New Zealand may well be satisfied at the present trend.” Looking back over the last fo.ctnight and the early period of “lYantic prices,” he said it was now plain that during the first few days nearhr all butchers thought customers —whom they were trying to attract —would judge shops by the quality of meat displayed. There was a general rush to show better quality meat than previously provided, and butchers paid high prices for meat like Scottish beef. But it then became obvious that housewives had firm limits. The initial high prices paid by butchers resulted in British farmers flooding the market, but, with the sharp fall in prices, farmers were now proceeding more reasonably. He added that, although Smithfield was still experiencing some labour difficulties with the shortage of experienced “pitchers,” the position was improving, particularly as cold store workers had decided to work at night again. But Smithfield was only one of a number of markets, and the general impression was that the trade would now continue to operate “fairly smoothly.” “I think that all supplying countries have reason to be quite satisfied with the way things have gone,” he said and, referring to last week’s shipment of New Zealand chilled beef, he remarked, “I still believe there is a big opportunity for it in Britain.”