HOME MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 13

HOME MARKETS.

CHEESE. A decided improvement has taken place in the Home cheese market since the New Year. The Shropshire has arrived in Liverpool with the first shipment of this season’s cheese from New Zealand, and several sales of white cheese have been made at 1525, landed terms. This price is equal to 149 s c.i.f.e, and quite ltd per lb f.o.b. New Zealand. FREIGHTS. The Prime Minister lias been in close touch with the Home authorities with a view to getting the freight reduced from ljd tier lb, ulus 10 per cent. It is understood that the shipowners have offered a reduction to 1 pi, plus 10 tier cent., which is 5 per cent, higher than last year, but the Prime Minister is still trying to get a further reduction. SHIPMENT. There is still a long delay in getting shipments away from New Zealand. Some of the cheese that was made during the latter half of October is still in store, and unless bettor shipping arrangements are made immediately it looks as if there will be about three months’ delay in getting the cheese shipped throughout the season. Apart from the heavy expense for storage and interest whilst the cheese is awaiting shipment, the present delay, if continued, will mean that a very large proportion of the new season’s output will arrive at Home from May onwards and clash with the new season’s make from Canada and other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, and probably realise lower prices than fhe cheese arriving Home during the next three or four months The control of the insulated space is still in the hands of the Imperial Government, and the Prim© Minister and fhe banks have been asked to do all in their power to urge the Government to increase the space allotments from 100,000 to 200,000 crates per month from February onwards.

PfiRORAiHN STUD RAM SALE. The third annual Bale of rams from Mr Ernest Short's Parorangi 'stud of Romney Marsh sheep was held at. the Show Grounds, Palmerston North on the 18th inst., and was conducted by Messrs I fidgety and Co. and Murray, Roberts, and 00. The sheep came forward in excellent condition, and being the first ram sale of the season in lire Manaviifu district, it evoked a good deal of interest. The attendance was not large, but. included a few floekrnastevs from outside the district. Only a few of the best stud rams drew keen competition, and these were taken by Mr E. Riddiford, of the Lower Ilult, at lOOgs (top price for the day), 85gs. 70gs, 521 gs, and 50g.s. The only other high-priced rain fell to Mr L. 1. M.'Lean, of Waituna, at 81g*. Other good rams sold at from 25 gs to 35gs, better sorts making up to 40gs, but a number were passed. Of the 500 one-shear flock rams, a large number were passed, the best making from figs to ll£gs, good from sgs to 7igs, and others down as low as 3gs. It became evident before the sale of the flock had advanced very far that the supply exceeded the demand, and a number were withdrawn. Eighty two-shear Romney ewes

changed hands at prices ranging from 24gs to 3£gs. The prices realised are anything but enoouraging to breeders of this class of sheep.—Dominion.