COMMERCIAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 September 1924, Page 10

COMMERCIAL.

THE MEAT MARKET. CONDITIONS IN SOUTH AMERICA. u * * I u —i-iil'.as Li&nOUiAlliJC WELLINGTON, Sept. 16. T'iie New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board das received the following letter riom its Sun on American representative, dated June 30: “All classes of tat cattle are dearer, with good prospects ot beet being consideraoiy higher eelxi.e rat cattle are available olf the spring grass. There is now less disoi imiii.iuon regarding weign i anti heavy beasts and plainer quality beet will be , snipped as chilled, tnough a. sufficiency • ol plainer quality beef suitable for j Continental requirements will be avail-! ab.e. snippers of live cattle for the Continental trade have been paying 24 cents, per kilo live weight- lor generally lieaVy cattle they snip, though 28 cents, was paid fcu\ a choice lot- of Aberdeen Angus steers destined for the Swiss market. The different freezing companies m Brazil are at present slaughtering about 2500 head of cattle per day amongst four plants operating. The gj-eater proportion of this beef is being sent to the Continental mairket. The use of British breeds as improving agents has been' disappointing in the wanner zones above Rio Grande de Sul. They have not given the results anticipated owing to ticks and insect pests that do not cause the least inconvenience to- the hardy Zebu, which is the only breed of cattle that will give results. “In extensive good grazing, wellwatered parts of Brazil the policy- was commenced of a careful selection of the. best backed cows, to which were muted balls witii the best backs a-vail-..ble, and a wonderful improvement has been brought about in breeding bitter backs on the Zebu, so as to give more acceptable carcases for butchers’ requirements. 1 have had extensive experience in Brazil, and my opinion regarding the suitability of the Zebu for the -conditions in Brazil is that they will live and thrive wheee other breeds die. In Argentina store ar.d breeding cattle are slow of sale at present. Owing to the scarcity of pasture there are less sheep available and best quality ■hoggets are in good demand. Last year’s kill on the south coast was 1 .450.235 sheep and lambs, while this year 1.308,620 were killed, or 141,615 less than last season. 'The results are in accordance with my .estimation expressed in previous letters. 'Hie weather has been favourable for lambing in this part of the country and a> good lamb crop can *be anticipated. In conversation to-day with Mr T. H. Townsend, from Punt a Arenas, that gentleman t-611s me the season has been exceptionally favourable in that part of the country and lambing is likely to be good., Swift’s prices to-day aire as follows: —Chillers o.OSd per kilo live a eight. Continental 3.63 d to 3.63 d. good eanners 2.5-ld, thin canners 1.63 d to 2.0 d ail per kilo; live weight sheep, "ets 8.53 d to 8.71 d per lb dead, wethers 6.8 d to 6.7 d ner lb, ewes 4.9 d to- 5.44 d per lb; exchange 13.22 dollars, to -the pound sterling.

CANTERBURY MARKETS. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 16. Rctatr.es continue to ho- the chief jtem • f interest. There has been a sudden firming, not on account of a dearth of cotatres developing, but because of the gambling that has been going on. Present f.o-.b. sacks in values are £6 10s to £6 16s for September-October. delivery. There is a difference, however, between paper and actual values, and 'he latter to fanners are £4 10s a ton. The offerings are small. The ■Wingatui is due to sail on September 29 with a small consignment. Cowgrass is meeting Avith some infjniry from Home -for best quality, which is worth up <to 9d a lb to farmers. . Chaff is very firm, and Auckland has come on the market, and except for a small lot some weeks age, it is the first time this year. Values to farmers are £7 a ton. There is no change in other classes of produce. AUCKLAND SHAREMARKET. AUCKLAND, Sent. 16. Stock Exchange sales.—Auckland Harbour per cent debentures, £103; Bank;of New Zealand, 56s New

Zealand Insurance, 29s 6d; South British insurance, 435; National Mortgage Agency, 75s 6d; New Waiotahi (contrib.f, Is Id and Is; Waihi, 28s 3d.