FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1156, 27 April 1894, Page 7

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

London, April 17. Tho Bill which the Government proposes to introduce dealing with tho frozen meat trade will confer tho same powers on the Board of Agriculturo with respect to the false marking of meat as are possessod by the Board of Trade under the Merchandise Marks Act . At a meeting of the consignees and salesmen, held for the purpose of discussing a method of supporting the values of frozen mutton, Mr Montague Nelson suggested fixing a minimum weekly selling price, which salesmen should bo bound to adhere to. Ho proposed that 2s lid per stone for prime New Zealand, and 2s 8d for ordinary New Zealand, should be tho prices fixed for the current week. The agent for the Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company remarked that similar proposals in 1887 had failed for want of unanimity. The meeting adjourned until the 23rd instant, in order that others interested in the trade may be consulted.

The report of Mr A. Towers, Smithfield, London, E.C., concerning the frozen meat trade, for the fortnight ending 9th March, contains the following : Arrivals of colonial meat continue on a very restricted scale, the chief during the past 14 days being the Eimutaka from New Zealand, and the Port Pirio from Australian ports. Trade has been generally very quiet, the euhancod prices being against the development of further business. Of mutton there have been considerable arrivals from the Eiver Plate, which have caused the values of Australian mutton to recede a little from the high level of 14 days ago. In New Zealand mutton the North Cantorbury brands havo hardenod in value entirely owing to small consignments reaching London, and this has been accentuated by the news of the breakdown of theDuko of Westminster near St. Vincent, and the consequent delay probably for two or three weeks of that vessel. Buyers very much object to tho present prices, but they will assume their normal level on arrival of the usual supplies. Other grades of Now Zealand mutton show a correspondingly higher valuo. , . The limited supplies of Now Zealand lambs are being marketed at high rates. The winter having been a mild ono, lamb has met a better demand than usual. The Eimutaka has some 14,000 which will tend to lower values. Beef has had a slow trade on account of large imports of chilled beef from the United States. __ The present quotations include —MuttonNew Zealand, best North Canterbury, 3s 2d per 81b ; New Zealand medium and good grades, 2s lOd to 8s per 81b. Lamb-Best North Canterbury, 4s 4d per 81b.