PRICES FOR LAMB

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1930, Page 12

PRICES FOR LAMB

DISAPPOINTING RETURNS

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, 11th June.

There is no doubt that there has been a good deal ,of dissatisfactiou among farmers in New Zealand regarding the prices ruling for mutton and lamb in London this year. This is quite understandable, but it is possible that a good many of the producers lay the blame tor the low prices in the wrong quarters. The economic position in Great, Britain is to be considered. Over-production also plays an important part in the low level of prices. Other commodities are affected for the same reason. Meat producers are not the only sufferers. In any ease, it is not possible in a day to two to alter the economic position of the world, tor the trouble, indeed, is world-wide. Looking more closely at the lamb position, we find that in 1913 the total shipments of lamb to Great Britain from all countries , were 5,600,000 carcasses. Ot this quantity New: Zealand supplied 3,500.000. , , , . , This year the New Zealand shipments alone total 6,500,000. Argentine .l°°ks ljke shinninc 4,500,000, and Australia 1,500,000 careS, making a total of 12,500 000. This is double the supply of pre-war days. The price in London in 1013 for the best quality New Zealand lamb was Ma lb. and to-day the price for best North Island down lambs is 9d a lb. So in effect we have now double the quantity of lamb, and yet maintain a price 50 per cent, over the pre-war level, which, aitev all, is a very good performance!. Farmers-may retort that the cost ol production in New Zealand has ureatly increased. Unfortunately, this factor cannot rule. The costs have to be made lower to meet the -world position.