N.Z. PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15823, 23 July 1913, Page 2

N.Z. PRODUCE IN LONDON.

THE MEAT MARKET. : (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 13. RECOVERY IN NEW ZEALAND MUTTON, On the whole prices of New Zealand mutton havo been maintained, and a certain weakness noticeable in the middle ot the past month has now been recovered, placing quotations on exactly the samo level as five weeks ago. The C.C. and D. Coinpuny say that Canterbury brands are too scarce to be quoted, but the beet weights are worth 4jjd to 4Jd per. lb. Light North Island sheep make up to 4Jd per lb, and the lowest price for heavy mutton is now 3|d per lb. It is this latter grade which shows tho most improvement. After being a drug in tho market for some time past, they aro now coming into better request, and prices have in consequenco moved in favour of sellers. Ewes are realising from 3|d to 3|d per lb, according to weight and quality. GOOD DEMAND FOR LAMB. The C.C. and D. Company mention that tho situation arising from tho slaughtermen's strike in Now Zealand reached its acutest stago about tho third week in May, when for a few days New Zealand lambs were very difficult to obtain, and prices touched 7d per lb for Canterburys and 6i|d per lb for North Islands. Few carcases, nowover, wore available to make these figures, and the arrival of some heavy cargoes started prices on a downward movement which has only now been -checked. As anticipated, the medium and heavyweight carcases show the most decline. The lightest carcases are relatively in short supply, and, being in most request, have kept their valuo better than other grades. Light Canterbury lambs aro worth 6|d per lb, and light North Islands about 6id per fb. Medium-weights of the former can be bought at 5Jd per lb, and the 451b earcascs have been freely offered at s|d. The demand, however, is good, considering tho nbc-ck that was placed on the consumption by the high prices, and importers are not overburdened with stocks in spite of heavy arrivals. DAIRY PRODUCE. There is still a good demand for strictly "choicest" Now Zealand butter, but the latter variety is in very small supply. For secondary inferior qualities there is less inquiry. Messrs Weddel mention that in New Zealand chceso and tho small 6tocks of old Canadan prices aro maintained with some difficulty New Zealand white is selling at 596 to 60s, with an occasional 61s per cwt, and coloured at 53s to 595. New Zealand coloured cheese has been very dull just lately, while white has realised 2s to 3s per cwt moro than coloured on account of scarcity. Messrs Dalgety write that the fact that the Tainui was in trouble, and that 6he had a large cargo of chceso on board, was used by sellers to force tho market up. although there was no improvement in the consumptive demand. The delayed arrival of the steamer enabled holders to make more money for tho produce on hand; but now all tho chceso is actually landed prices havo fallen Is to 2s per cwt, and tho market is quiet, especially for coloured. There is now practically no New Zealand butter on the market. Messrs Dalgety havo con.piled a table which shows that for the five months ended May 31 arrivals of butter from New Zealand showed a decrease of 73,613cwt in comparison with the correspond, ing period of 1912, New Soufli Wales registered a decrease of 48,645cwt, and Victoria one of 31,130cwt. On the other hand, recoipta from the' Argentine have been 20,320cwt moro and from Queensland 53,389ewt moro than for tho five corresponding months of 1912. The total decrease from all sources for tho fivo months has been 54,289cwt. <

Writing this afternoon the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company reports tho Tainui's butter to bo in good order It is selling at firm rates, and the quality is excellent. New Zealand butter is now in small supply, and is well held. Tho quotation is 112s to 114s for salted and 114s to 116s for un6alted. Tho market for all descriptions of cheese is on the s'ow side. New Zealand white is quoted at 606 to 61s; coloured, 50s to 58s per cwt.