FROZEN MEAT TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21540, 12 January 1932, Page 3

FROZEN MEAT TRADE

CONDITIONS IN SOUTH IMPROVED OPENING SCHEDULE Since the New Year lamb buyeie have been very busy buying up all suitable lambs, and it is expected that there will be a good deal of pressure on freezing space at the works for the first month or two. The opening schedule of prices is as follows: — Prime lamb, 361 b and under, 5Jd. Lambs, 371 b to 421 b. sd. Lambs, killing from 431 b to 501 b, 4Jd. Lambs, over 501 b. 4d. Seconds, 361 b and under, 4d. Seconds, over 361 b, 34d. Practically all buying this year is being done on schedule and not as in previous years “ on feet.” New Zealand meat is at present being adversely affected by heavy supplies from Australia and the Argentine which are being sold at considerably lower values. Everything points to a lower level of prices as far as the Southland Frozen Meat Company is concerned in realisation at the other end as compared with last year. As far as the local prices are concerned much depends on the movement of the pelt and wool markets, and at present it is not possible to estimate what prices the pelts will bring. The opening schedule this year, however is better than last year. On January 18, 1931, 5d was quoted for second lambs under 361 b, and five_ days later this was reduced to 4Jd, which price was maintained until March 5. For new season’s lamb there is a difference of about 14d drop in values on the Home market as compared with last January. The value for old season’s during the first week of January this year is 7d, compared with BJd for the similar period of last year. This goes to show that the schedule here is right up to value on those figures. The South Otago Freezing Works opened with 36 butchers—a full complement. About 2000 lambs were put through. With the large percentage of lambs which was recorded during the season, it ie anticipated that a record year will be established at the works. Their opening inclines interest to the prospects of the coming fat lamb season. From reports to hand there appear to be a goodly number of lambs in the Tapanui, Lawrence, Tokomairiro, Owaka Valley, and Clutha districts ready for freezing. The freshening of the grass during the past week or two has helped to bring them into condition. The prices offered are simlar to those published above for Southland. The average price for wethers is approximately 3d, and for ewes Ifd. The contract existing between the South Otago Freezing Company and Borthwick’s terminated during the year, and as Borthwick’s have decided not to operate further south than Timaru this season, the only firms operating in the South Otago district this season will be Sims, Cooper, Ltd., the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, Ltd., and the South Otago Freezing Company. IN CANTERBURY. Export prices for the first week after the New Year in Canterbury show some variation on those of the corresponding period of 12 months ago. Lamb is on a slightly lower basis this season, but the rate dropped each successive sale last season until 4Jd operated for firsts for the last week in January and the whole of February, and 4-Jd in the whole of March. In April an improvement to 5d set in, and from mid-May there was a further advance until 6Jd was operating in the middle of June. Wether prices were much better last season than this when the season opened, but by mid-February they had dropped from the opening price of 4Jd to 2Jd for firsts and from 3Jd to 2d for the next weights However, these prices improved later on, rind 3d and 3Jd for 48’s and a fraction less for 49/56’s ruled from midApril until the end of the season. The better aspect this season is provided, so far, by the ewe —le. Oaen-

ing at Ifd last season, it dropped until mid-February, and from then to the beginning of April to Id for 48’s, fd for 49/64’s, and |d for 65/72’s, and seconds were the same; weighty ewes for a period were selling as low as 3s. The schedule this season for ewes has opened more hopefully.