MEAT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXI, Issue LXII, 8 April 1911, Page 3

MEAT.

Private cablegrams indicate that there is some likelihood of London stores becoming congested owing to the slow disposal of both mutton and lamo (says the Wellington Post), Prices for Canterbury, according to the High Commissioner, compared with the averages of those for the corresponding week of 1910, are as follow: —

1911. 1910. Lamb 4|d s|d Mutton... 3^d . 4U-16d The tendency is to force sales in view of the large quantity of both mutton and lamb in store and on the water. Beef is in a better position, stocks being light. There is a scarcity of beef inNew Zealand. Sales have been effected locally during the week on c.i.f .c. terms at 4 7-16 d for Canterbury lamb under 421b, and North Island 4d; mutton, Canterbury 3£d and North Island 3^d. Prime ox beef has been purchased on the basis of 3§d c.i.f.e. for equal tores and hinds. A very large quantity of second-class meat has been shipped Home during the past few weeks in consequence of the dry weather. There is a good demand, however, for such meat in the Midland and Northern Counties of England, but at, of course, a lower price than the prime mutton which New ■ Zealand ordinarily contributes to the United Kingdom. Even under the present unsatisfactory conditions, Lancashire is said to be the largest consuming county in the United Kingdom for Australian mutton (states Mr Billis, Victorian Immigration Officer in London). "Experts have informed me that Australian carcases which are small and lean are peculiarly popular among the working classes.. Since the inauguration of the frozen meat trade the Argentine producers have, with great keenness, studied the tastes of the operators in the Lancashire and Yorkshire mills, an dnow produce a meat which is well known and liked; consequently, Argentine mutton sells at a better price than Australian mutton. My informants are, however, of the opinion that if the Australian producers studied the requirements with equal care, and arranged direct shipments, the Australian mutton "would command better prices. The factory operators do not desire fat meat!"