THE FREEZING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19217, 5 January 1926, Page 7

THE FREEZING SEASON.

OPENING IN CANTERBURY. RAIN IMPROVES PASTURES. STOCK OFFERINGS NORMAL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWS CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The freezing works in Canterbury opened for the season to-day. It is re- ! ported that stock is offering freely, although there has beeil no. great rush to get it into the works. The manager of ono of the works stated to-day that the quantity of stock offering was just about normal. They were working with only about half their full number of butchers. It took some time to get a full staff together. Hie stock coming forward for the opening of the season had been booked up before the holidays, and in no case had farmers wanted to cancel their bookings on account of the improved feed prospects as a result of the rain which fell last week. There was no doubt, however, that the | rain had improved the pastures a Idt and this would probably prevent farnu; , rushing their stock in. Freezing buyers will be operating at the next stock sale at Addington. Last season opened with the freezing buyers 1 paying unusually high prices for lamb, ovor 13d a lb. The opening rates were not maintained throughout tho season, but still tho season was a very good ono from the point of view of the producers This season the prices for lamb are a gocd deal lower than they were last season. Although all the freezing works were not fully manned to-day it is understood there is no shortage of labour. Most of the shearing in Canterbury has now been done, and harvesting operations are by no means general yet.