MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18862, 10 November 1924, Page 6

MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

COMING SEASON'S OUTLOOK, EFFECT OF HIGH PRICES. CHRISTMAS DEMAND OVERRATED A cautious view of the prospects for the coming season's lamb and mutton trade is taken by Mr. H. G. Dickie, of the Patea Farmers' Freezing Company, who arrived by the Tainui yesterday, after an 18 months' sojourn in London on his firm's behalf. He said prices were very high and at the present level there was more chance of a drop than a rise. This applied more to mutton than lamb, as the latter supplied what was really a luxury trade. The statistical position was fairly good; " But you known what statistics are,"' added Mr. Dickie. " When the price goes above a certain level it cripples consumption. Mutton prices, I should say, are at a dangerous level. Lamb is in a better position owing to the class of the demand, but still prices are high. The present market is particularly good, over a shilling wholesale, but when you're on the top it is easier to topple." Mr. Dickie said landing and storage charges had increased about 30 per cent.since the dockers' strike. Those charges came off prices at the New Zealand end. The system of handling also left much to be desired. The meat lost more in appearance and quality between the London docks and the consumer than on all the rest of the journey. On the other hand, the Argentine mutton came on.the market in gcod condition. Beef was a little better, but there was not much chance of effective improvement against the vastly superior product of the' Argentine. The advice so often given farmers to rush their lambs on to the market to catch the English Christmas trade was discounted by Mr. Dickie. He said there was no demand for lamb until the spring, and if the spring was late so was the demand for lamb. People waited for the spring vegetables. In attempting to ship their lamb to London in time for Christmas, farmers lost more in weight and Jack of finish than was gained by a fugitive demand.

Sir Francis Boys, general manager of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, who also returned by the Tainui, agreed with this view. He said it was no use rushing an early market and early prices. It was that and the lato spring that caused the depression in the London lamb market last season. Sir Francis declined to comment further on the meat trade outlook, as did Mr. W. E. Flint, New Zealand director of Messrs. Thomas Borthwick and Company.