COMMERCIAL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 139, 29 May 1914, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

FROZEN MEAT

The C.C. and D. Co., Ltd., London, forwards the following report on the meat market, under date 9th April: New Zealand Mutton.—Arrivals durinti the past four weeks amount to ‘278 173 careases, but the total receipts for the rear. 607,821 earcases, fall short of last year’s figures by 16,889 carcases The position, as regards stocks and values, bears a curious similarity to the position at this date last year. Last rear the market was beginning to ieel the effect o> the slaughtermen's strme ch the export, and there was an improving demand even tor the heat v sheep. This year, there are not only ample stocks in store, but large cargoes afloat, and the heavy-weight sheep which predominate are not only very difficult to sell, but their value has a downward tendency. Canterbury brands are too scarce to be quoted, and New Zealand mutton is rapidly becoming synonymous with North Island mutton. Light-weight carcases oi good quality make- tin to -IJd per lb. Sheep of bSlbs of good quality, and whose only fault is their weight, do not easily find hu>ors for anv quantity at 3jd per lb. Medium-weight carcases are worth about t',d per lb, and ewes about 3’d per lb. South American Mutton. —The receipts during the four weeks amount to 166,623 carcases, and the total for the vear shows a shortage oi 220.-J34 carcases on last year’s figures of <60.94« carcases. The same scarcity ol light weights has been conspicuous for some tine’ past in the Argentine shipments, and die quotations given only apply to medium aii<k heavy-weight carcases. Some extremely heavy sheep have changed hands down to 3Jd per lb, hut : •>(> maioricv -of carcases realise between bld and -hl per '•>. . Australian Mutton. —The arrival 0, 2 >; 7 687 carcases in the past month aas imt’ pro,cd too much for the market, rJd’o-.mh the total receipts are 129,628 carcases in excess of those of last year. 1 ho demand for Australian mutton has been steadier than for any other descript ion. chiefly bv reason ci the suitahiliiv it' size and weight, aud in censoqueuee, quotations do not reflect the general weakness to the- panic extent." Wether mutton commands from ; : '4 to Id per lb, and ewes from 3jd to ;>pl per lb. according l<» weight ami Lamb. -The additions to stocks from al’ sources during the four weeks have amounted to 536,412 carcases. The year’s receipts to date amount to 1 9 ;> f 793 carcase:-, showing an increase of 7128 119 carcases. This large quanv Im’s been distributed amongst numm mis ‘holders, and as the demand has scarcelv been equal to the arrivals, a d-'c : d d'v weak tendency has developed in urit-os. The output is certainly no ;‘„ s ‘ ami probablv greater than usual, kt ihe beginning of April, but at no tini" has 'the market given signs of h...<dfci: lt r th- hopes of fancy values which appear to have been indulged m bv seme 'speculators at the beginning oi' the season. It may he noted thin quotations are actually lower than at th’s date List vear, but it must lie borne in mind that at this time a year • -,ro the maiket was faced vnh light Z aland lamb:, afloat Canterbury lambs are mm easily obtainable, and ulii’p a fav; #»<’;<! iighi carcase make pp’* lb it is not diffieiilt io obtasn the best grades at 6Jd per lb am medium weights at prices down to bd lb The best light North Islands * > net cxcc 'd 6’d per lb. the more common figure being (id per lb. but medium weight' carcases are now being sold at prices down to' ,r{d per lb. These quota! ions represent a decane cl a >ont ~d per lb in the List fortnight, anu time has not he n the recovery that was hoped for with the clow* approach o Easter. Operators who had pm chased c.i.f. appear anxious to realise and cut their losses, but there should be. no reeessitv for anv further decline. siu.--tralian ‘lambs are not plentiful, ami sma’l lambs of good quality maintain their value, but are difficult to find. Quotations range from 5Jd to ot, pe. lb according to weight and qualitv. Frozen Beef.—The total receipts from all tine- produc.ng countries are very close.to those for the same period last vear. increased supplies from Australia and New Zealand eotinterbalarcing th:' deficiency from South America. The quotations given must be regarded as nominal, as practically no business can be done on the London market while the abundant supplies of cheap chilled lieef continue. The value of forequarters aud crops tends in l.t'our of buyers, and hindquarters arc also a little easier, hut business is coo limited for reliance to be placed on the quote.turns given, as no Large quantity could lie placed at these rates.