FROZEN MEAT MARKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14702, 9 December 1909, Page 8

FROZEN MEAT MARKET

THE OUTLOOK.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

CHRIST CHURCH, December 8,

It is a rather unusual stato of affairs at this time of the year to have only tivo of the many freezing works in the South Island doing business, but that is the case at present. Work has been comparatively slack, and since the opening, 011 November 15, the works at Belfast and Islington have put through only about 12,000 carCases between them. According to a gentleman well-known in the trade, with whom a Press reporter had a conversation, the present position may be put down to the weather of the pivst few weeks, which has not been conducive to producing feed that would biing tho lambs on rapidly. The buyers for the various companies have had a fairly arduous task to pick out lambs suitable for freezing, and 110 largo lots have been on offer. In fa-ct, few lines of any sort aro coming in, and those which are doing so consist of small lots— a dozeii here, and 30 or 40 there, that are tho pick of the various drafts. However, with a continuance of the present hot weather better prospects are in view, and ill about a fortnight's' time, or at the New Year at the latest, business should be brisk. It was stated that the Fairiicld Works will open in a week or so for a few days, just to seo how matters stand in the Ashburton district, but neither of tlie two works near Timaru are at all likely to ttart before tho New Year at the earliest. Naturally, the exporting of lambs oil .armers' account is governed by the numbers offering, and at present the trade as almost at a. standstill. Indications show that the business in this particular line will be, if anything, better than it was last year, and it is hoped bolter than in the 1907-08 season. At present only a lew hundred have bec-r. put through, but the bulk of the business does not come op until February and March. It is anticipated that the lessor learnt by the farmetis last year will incline them to do business on a slightly different basis from tliat on which they did it then. • _A large exporter, who was asked his views ;us ti. the small amount of business doing at tht: local freezing works, said the exporters were in a difficulty as to what to do, as the immediate prospects of the frozen meat market were far from satisfactory. No less thai 550,000 carcases of mutton and .lamb were shipped from Australia Iki month, and about 500,000 were I going to follow this month. Most of this is lamb, as fat sheep can be held back, whereas lamb cannot. The strike is not going to affect the sliipments. Freight for fro?,en meat from Australia is not fixed at a definite tale, as from New Zealand, the freight of each steamer being arranged for on the best terms, and allowance will be made for any extra cost through the strike. Seeing tfc.it Australia last year shipped , about two and a-half million CrtI'CiUSC.S o£ mutton and lamb, lialf of which was lamb, the export of one million carcases in two months shows that our trade will be seriously intevfered with for some time at « e «IL ? uri , hei ?°re, the Argentine shipped 40,000 lambs in November, and it. is reported that double this number will bo shipped month, and it is impossible to say what is to follow. These shipments are much heavier tlian for the same months last year, but tho heaviest shipments of lamb from the Argentine were made last season in January, Februarv. and March. What is hampering the ioc'al trade is that no offers can be obtained from London for lamb, and exporters, therefore, cannot operate in lambs to any extent. For what has been purchased, 4d per lb over all has been paid, up to 36's • a|d for 36's to 42's; and 3Jd for over 42's and seconds, which works out at an average of about 12s per head. The fact that no offers will be made bv London buyers evidently indicates that a waiting policy is being pursued. At the Addington Saleyards yesterday several exporters' buyers were operating, and purchased between (GO and 800 lambs, at prices ranginc from lis 3d to 12s 7d. A large shecpownsr also competed, and was the largest huver for export, paying lis 8d to 13s 9d 'for the lots he obtained. This is the first time this season t-liat- there has been any competition oil the part of export buyers for fat lambs in the Addington market. One export buyer also purchased several oi wethers, ''. ■ ,