THE LAMB TRADE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2651, 30 October 1906, Page 5

THE LAMB TRADE.

Exporters of frozen lamb are likely to have some trouble with the market this season (says a London c ent) for it is pretty certain that values will decline. The price today is a shade better than it was a month ago, and that looks hopeful, but it must be remembered that there is no Australian lamb on the market and practically none on the water. The season is somewhat later than Inst year so far as Australia is concerned, but the chief reason for the restricted exports is the fact thai squatters are holding back hoping to see prices advance. Mr J. W. Angliss, a large exporter of Victorian-grown lambs, states in an 1 interview that the lamb raisers were holding back and that presently there will be a rush of business. The sooner they realise that the price will have to come down the better, as a rush at the end of the season would only have the effect of still further depreciating values. If the producers would accept the fair market rates it would relieve the congestion later on. They ha"e no hope of getting the prices of last year — 15s 6d in Melbourne 6r 13s 6d on thp ground—for a three or four months' old lamb, which is equal to 5d per lb in London. The growers can raise goods lambs at 10s each and make it pay." Late shipping from Australia means that New Zealand lamb wilf have to meet more competition than was experienced in the past season, and as the Australian land) is bound to be offered at a relatively cheap rate, there is not much hope of the.prices for the New Zealand prcluct being maintained.