NEW ZEALAND MUTTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3671, 22 July 1924, Page 50

NEW ZEALAND MUTTON.

THE LONDON MARKET. PALMERSTON NORTH, July 17. The following extract from a letter from one of the leading meat importing firms in London, received by a Palmerston North resident, is illuminating in view of the recent strictures by the Meat Export Control Board: —“We find that the South American sheep appear to be in sufficient supply for the demand, and supplies were held back when the market en particularly low here, with the result that there is a little more afloat from that country. It is a definite and undeniable fact, and one we cannot be too emphatic about, that the River Plate sheep have entirely taken possession of the mutton market previously held by New Zealand, and that apart from the small trade in the very best descriptions of New Zealand sheep, there is very little business indeed for other descrip tions. In our daily visits to Smithfield we have continuous and tiresome complaint* from stallholders concerning the sale of New Zealand mutton. Recently one of our clients —a well-known dominion freezing works —had about half a dozen sevens left on hooks unsold, together with one Plate sheep of equivalent weight. We were asked to give our opinion as to the best quality sheep on the hooks, and unfortunately we had to find in favour of tho Plate sheep. It must be admitted that the best sheep were sold earlier, but were graded ‘prime.’ The cost to stallholders (bought well) was 63d for the New Zealand and s|d for the Plate sheep. It is not to be wondered at that for every 10 New Zealand sheep the clients sell they sell 100 Plate sheep with less trouble. The quality of the New Zealand sheep this year, probably owing to the drought-, has been poor and too few choice sheep have been coming over. The bulk is no better than the Plate sheep, and the prices are out of proportion. The same applies to tho lamb market. It is ridiculous to think that New Zealand second grade (ordinary brands) aro making lOd a pound. It is making that price at the moment (early June) simply because there is very little Australian lamb for sale.”