SHEEP AND LAMBS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 75, 30 March 1931, Page 12

SHEEP AND LAMBS

BETTER MARKET TONE

With wool down and prices for sheep and lambs low, the pastoralist has been having a very thin time of it for the past five or six months. As a rule, like other producers, who are concerned almost exclusively with the export trade, he is apt to leave out of account the value of the New Zealand local market. As every woolbroker knows, the New Zealand manufacturer is a valuable if small buyer in the local sales, giving, as a rule, excellent prices for such wools as suit his requirements and competing keenly for them with overseas buyers. If the shecpfannov in the past has overlooked the local market lor meat, he lias no excuse for doing so now, for with the low retail prices ruling for lamb and mutton in the Wellington market there lias been a large expansion ot the retail trade, very keen competition, and the growth of a large cash-ovcr-thc counter business in mutton and lamb, and to some extent o£ pork also. Low prices have stimulated consumption, and sonic fanners have been supplying.meat via the ! abattoirs direct to the saleroom. This cheapening o£ mutton and lamb has certainly been responsible for some relief ot congestion on pastures. From Kciltling, GisGornc, Cartcrton, Addington. Lecston, and Ilawkcs Bay come reports of improved returns for sheep and lambs. Prices are still low. but they are better than they were. Store sheep and lambs in certain districts have improved with rainfall. There is still a long way to go before the pastoral industry can be said to bo profitable, but the trend is in that direction i£ the better returns from wool are taken into the firmer tone of the live-stock markets.