MEAT SLUMP.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 63, 2 March 1921, Page 7

MEAT SLUMP.

FURTHEIfBIG DROP. EXPORT FIRMS CUT BUYING Dunedin, March 1. During the past week the wholesale meat market has weakened considerably, and prices to-day are very much easier. Most of the large exporting firms have notified sellers that they have reduced their buying prices, and it was reported to-day that one exporting firm had ceased buying altogether. The head of one stock and station house was asked if the present waterside trouble had anything to do with the fall in values. He said it had not. The cause of the-weak market, he continued, was the fact that the demand from outside markets had dropped very appreciably. The prices of hides, skins and pelts have also slumped heavily, and even at the current low values they are practically unsaleable. To show how values for export have fallen, the following buying quotations just issued by a leading New Zealand export firm should be .read with the greatest interest. A comparison is' made in the case of beef with the quotations of February 15, a fortnight ago: Beef.—Feb. 15, 1001 b: Prime ox beef 42/6, seconds ox beef 37/6, prime heifers 37/6. prime cow 25/-, seconds cow 20/-. March 1- —1001 b: Prime ox beef 25/-, seconds ox beef 21/-, prime heifer 22 6, prime cow 17/6. seconds cow 12/-. Lamb.—March 1: Lamb up to 421 h 7-}d per lb. up to 42-50'b 6sd, over 501 b ssd. seconds 7|d. Wethers.—Up to 641 b 3Scl. up to 61701 b 2*l, over 70fb 2Jd. Ewes.—Up to 641 b 64-7216 lijd, over 7211> I£<l.