FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 74, 30 March 1910, Page 11

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

PROSPECTS FOR COMING SEASON. [FROM OCR OWN COEBESPONDCNT.] LONDON, 18th February. The los* last year in the Smithfield Market in connection with frozen meat was estimated at one million pounds sterling. The slump is attributed by Mr L. H. Furniss, secretary of the Incorporated Society of Meat Importers, to the enormous increase in the supply of mutton and lambs, principally the latter, from New Zealand nnd Australia. The following are the comparative returns of shipments to this country in 1908 and 1909:— NEW ZEALAND 1903 1009 1.747.000 theep 1.839,000 sheep 2,503,000 lambi 3,144.000 lamb AUSTRALIA. 616.000 Miecp 1,496,350 sheep 1.353.700 lambs 1,250,650 lambi RIVER PLATE. 3,228,900 »hcrp ■ 2,598,000 sheep 373,000 lambs 4,519,000 limb "These figures show that there has hecn a great increase in the importation of both sheep and lambs, the latter imperially, while from Australia and the Ktver Pinte the sheep hay« decreased and the lambs have somewhat increased," write* £t. Furni»i # who continues;

"As to prices in tire wholesale market, New Zealand mutton in August last sank to the low figure of i 1 1 - 1 6d per lb. wholesale, and lamb 2|d. Canterbury lamb was as low as 3^d and 2gd. There was a satisfactory demand amongst the working classes for frozen meats last year, but the addition of 47.217 tons to the available supply was too much to admit of wholesale prices being maintained at the high Icvrl of 1908, when importations were relatively short. Not until September lust year was any relief experienced, nnd directly it was discovered that storage spaco was more obtainable values commenced to rise. The crisis was in July ; but now the tendency is upwards, as the old season's lambs are practically disposed of and the new season's are rommg into the country. According to Messrs. Weddel and Co. the recent ccneral improvement in trade throughout the country has already resulted in a freer consumption of meat, and in thoir review of the position they 'hope that this improvement will develop an the year advances, because there is every prospect that the markets of the United Kingdom will have to absorb almost the whole output of the freezing works of the world.' In their opinion 'supplies from all sources, except North America, arc likely to increase, especially frozen muttcn and lamb from Australia and NVw Zealand and chilled beef from the fivei Plate.' "The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company also thinks that there will be a break in the general depression of trade."