BEEF AND MUTTON IN LONDON

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1681, 18 May 1904, Page 67

BEEF AND MUTTON IN LONDON

W. and R. Fletcher, Ltd., frozen mielat importeirs, writing under elate London, March 31, 1904, report: —• Contrary to anticipation, the condition of trade has not improved as the completion of the Lenten season approaches. On every side—wholesale and retail —the same complaints are heard respecting the weak demand andi the unsatisfactory state of business generally. Really choice cattle have barely maintained values; sheep of good class arc scarce and dear: lambs are also dear considering their middling condition and are only now beginning to show any weight ad quality ; veal is in good request, best descriptions being rather limited as a rule. At the foreign depots supplies, though not heavy, have been much in excess ;of requirements, consequently lower prices have had to be taken. On the basis of sales made this week quotations for best U.S. cattle may be taken at 3s 6d to 3s 8d; secondary, 3s 2d to 3s scl per stone (81b>s), a few Canadians making 3s 3d to 3s Gd, s Several consignment of U.S. sheep have been handled at Deptford and Birkenhead, meeting a fairly good sale at prices to equal 4s Bd. to 4s lOd per stone for well conditioned yearlings and wethers; heavier including ewes, 3s 6d to 3s 10d FROZEN MUTTON. New Zealand.— Demand has shown no improvement; but tlie moderate supply has enabled price's to be kept fairly steady. The .comparative cheapness of beef and lamb is 'to a more or less extent responsible for sales of mutton being lests than usual at this period. Australian.—The few offering have met a very slow sale, and the fact that less than 7000 carcasses liave arrived duirino- the past three weeks is a clear indication of the limited trade there fa for this description. To effect sales of anything buit the primest brands in any quantity id to Id per lb less than prices roling for River Plate sheep has to be accepted. Riven* Plate. —Business has ruled quiet, prices remaining at somewhere about the same level as last _ recorded. Lamb and beef being more m buyers favour than mutton has undoubtedly induced larger purchases of the former, and .sales of the latter have been influenced accordingly. FROZEN LAMB. New Zealand.—A further decline in values of fd to id per lb. has to be recorded. Although trade has steadily improved, sales have not been effected on a sufficiently large scale to keep pace with arrivals. The present demand is considered to be below the average of

last .season, but current ratels should stimulate and increase it to the required dimensions. Canterbury si have been offering fVeely this week at 5d., and other descriptions at 4yd to 4fdJ per lb. Australian. —In sympathy with New; Zealand descriptions, prices have still fnirther declined; demand has also been adversely influenced through the re’l'aitive quotations being so near together. The primest brands cannot now be quoted a'fc more than 4fd, and the majority being sold do not realise more than Hd to. 4fd pea- lb. River Plate. —Sales have been effected freely at Liverpool and other provincial centres; the low prices, vi z., 4d to 41 d at which they are offered (only a fraction less than mutton) attracting buyers. In London the supply is limited, and quotations are on a par with Australian^. FROZEN BEEF. New Zealand.—The supply available, although extremely limited, is more than ample for present requirements. Sales during the past fortnight have been unimportant, and quotations are quite nominal. • Australian. —Business has been of the most meagre description. 111 view of the low prices ruling for American and River Plate chilled, frozen lias been practically unsaleable. « River Plate. —There has been very little doing at Smithfield, andi an extremely slow demand is reported from the provincial .centres. Quotations nevertheless show no appreciable alteration, it being realised that in view of the supply and cheapness of chilled any reduction in prices would be unlikely to influence sales.