ON THE LAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 931, 1 February 1924, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

FROZEN MEAT > INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AMERICA. By the last mail the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board received some interesting information relating to the frozen meat industry in South America. The hoard's representative at Buenos Aires wrote as follows under dute 15th November, 1923: “You are already aware of the stoppage in tile slaughter of export beef cattle, caused by the application of the minimum price law, the enforcement of which has been delayed for 180 days. Killing has .again been resumed, and many lots of choice steers slaughtered for the Christmas trade. The Ireezers have so far maintained prices; but a big drop is inevitable owing to the largo available supply at this season of the year. The quantity of dressed beef in the chamliers, and the animals purchased before ihe Act caine into force enabled the compi nies to fill up their shipping space, with Iho exception of odd lots for the Continent. The freezing companies’ business offices have lately been thronged with owners of fat cattle desirous of selling their animals before the fall in prices. Sheep.—There has been a large offering of all classes of sheep, and values are slightly lower. There have been considerable entries of good lambs around 32 pounds, in more evel and fatter lots than are generally marketed here. Thero is no means of getting reliable information regarding the possib e killings on the South Coast (called Pategmia in the trade), only there has been an exceptionally severe winter, with heavy fulls of snow, which will cause sheep to be thin in the spring, while there are only' natural grasses available in that part of this republic, where the killing season starts in Januury and finishes about middle of April. I am inclined to consider that uuiubi rs of the Pategoniari sheep have been brought to the province of Buenos Aires, owing to the high prices ruling for sheep here. A co-operative society have commence .1 to build a plant at Deseado (Santa Cruz), with a capacity to handle 5000 sheep a day, and store 250,000 carcases. LONDON WOOL SALES. Levin and Co. Ltd., have received the follow ng cable from their London agents, dated 29th January. 1924: Wool sales are proceeding. Prices for average farmers’ lots ure: Jreasy merino 28d to 34d, scoured merino 57d, halfhred 56’s 26d to 32d, 5056’s 22d to 27d. 48-50’s 20d to 23d, tine crossbred l&-48’s 18d to 20d. medium 44-46's l&d to 18 1, coarse 40-44's 15d to l&id, low 36-40’s 14d to 16d, crossbred bellies and pieces 14d to 16d, crossbred hocks 9d to lOd. WOOL SALES AT TIMARU. (Per Press Association.) TIMARU, Jan. 31. The second wool sales ol the ■ season opened to-night, buyers being present from practii ally all countries interested in the wool industry. Competition was keen, especially from Continental buyers. The catalogue comprised 14,448 bales. Ihe quality, although hardly up to lust seasons high "standard, contained a proportion of useful superior qualities. The highest prices us far us the sale lias gone are as follow : Merino, 32id : locks. 15d; pieces, 26Jd: hoggets, 30d ; bellies, 22R1; half-bred, good, 27d to 29 ! .d ; medium, 25d to 27d ; inferior, 23d to 25d ; cross-bred, 14j,d to 21d ; three-quarter-bred, 22d to 23-Jd; medium, heavy ami ii ferior merinos were lower, with less demand than for half and three-quarter bred. WOOL, SKIN, HIDE AND TALLOW SALE. Abri:ham and Williams: Ltd., report: We held o lr monthly sale of the above on 31st Januaiy when we ottered a very large catalogue to a full attendance of buyers. In sympai hy with other markets wool sold at very 1 igh prices and quite equalled prices obtained in the larger centres. Sheepskins were keenly sought after at 2d to 3d per lb better than last sale. Hides were also» in good demand at an advance of Id to 2£d, calfskins at 2d to 3d per lb in seller s favour : tallow was also in good demand at £1 to £2 per ton better than last sale. We quote: —Wool: Southdown, 23d to 25d; crossbred medium, 17d to l8d; coarse 13d to 15d inferior, lid to 13d; lambs, 20d to 22d; i ieces, 9d to 10£d; locks, 7d to 7id; dead wool, 10(1 to 12d ; crutchings, 7d to 9d. Sheepskins: Crossbred fine. 16id to 163 d; mediui i, 143 d to 16d ; coarse, 12d to 13id : damag’d, to lid; salted pelts 3s to 4s 3d each; i wools 6s to 7s bd ; lambs salted, 4s 3d obs 8d each. Hides: Ox. heavy to lOd per lb; medium to 9ad; light, 7id to Sid; cow medium, to 6jd • fight, 5d to sj,d ; cut an J inferior, 3d to sd; horse hides 9s each. Calfskins: Best lines lo 17RI per lb; good. 5d to 16-id ; stained, 14d. to lsd ; cut and inferior, llid to 13id • yearlings and kip, 7d to £d ; tallow in casks to £32 5s per ton; in tins to £26 per ton. HAWKE'S BAY RAM FAIR. (Per Press Association.! HASTINGS, Jan. 31. The Hawke’s Bay ram fair opened to-day in beautiful weather, when Romney flocks wore offered to a good attendance of buyers. Generally speaking, the quality was particularly good and tile entry- large, though well short of the record. Bidding opened briskly at 14 guineas and good prices were i luintained throughout, but although tlie higher prices were very satisfactory, some good lines only reached moderate figures. Messrs Dalgety and Company topped the market with a line of six shearings on account of Mr D. Buick. Palmerston North, which were quitted at 18 guinea:. FEILDIN'G SHOW. For .he Feilding show, which takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday next, sth and 6th February, record entries have been received and everything points towards the function being a- highly successful one. Ring 11 vents, horses, sheep and home industrie i show an increase on previous joars entries but there is a slight decline in cattle. Some of the best horses in New Zealand have Icon entered for the jumping events and the sheep dog trial will, as usual, no doubt prove highly attractive. Thrills will bo experienced by those who are fortunate enough to attend the show on people s day to witness the two motor cycle races of eight and ten miles respectively, when the crack riders of the Dominion will be competing. Quite a number, of side shows have been inquiring for space so the youngsters may relv on ha 'ing a good time. Hot water and milk vv ill be provided by the committee fiee of ehaige. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. SYDNEY, Jan. 31. Oats, Tasmanian, white, 5s 2d to 5s 3d; maize, South African, 5s lid to 6s; potatoes, local £9, Tasmanian, £7 10s to ; onions, Victorian, £8 to £lO. Press Association. T „ ADELAIDE, Jan. 31. Oats, 3s Id to 3s 2d.—Press Association. RINDERPEST OUTBREAK. MELBOURNE, Jan. 31. The Commonwealth Government lias been notified that the Irish Free State has prohibited tlie importation of Australian hay and straw in consequence of the rinderpest outbreak.—A. and N.Z. cable. -