"PRIME CANTERBURY."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11129, 31 July 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

"PRIME CANTERBURY."

A VOICE FROM THE NORTH,

JUST AS GOOD THERE.

"... During the last year or two Auckland has come into prominence in the export of frozen larnb and beef (remarks the Herald), but it has on the London market encountered the old fetish of "prime Canterbury" pretty often, and according to the ideas of some London dealers New Zealand would seem to be a small province of a great colony called Canterbury.-' . "'■ '

Mr Stringer, general secretary to the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, in conversation with a Herald representative, said : — "We have to fight against the idea that only prime meat comes from Canterbury, and I think I cahfshow you we are now doing it pretty successfully. Here is the market report for May 3rd of the big house of Gordon Woodroffe and Co., of London, with a colonial office in Christchurch. It quotes Smithfield spot prices for prime Canterbury lambs, under, 361b, at 6 5-16d to 5 7-16d per lb, 361b to 421b at sgd to s£d, and 421b" to 601b at sid to 5 5-8d; Wellington lamb, 361b to 421b, at 5 3-16d to 5 5-16d; and fair average North Island lambs (I suppose that means poor old Auckland)' un-' der 421b at 4 7-8d to 5 l-Bd. Then the well-known firm of Weddell and Co., on May 3rd, with 37,746 carcases from Australia, 248,748 from New Zealand, and 7694 from River Plate, quote prime Canterbury, 281b to 361b, at £4d to sgd, 361b to 421b at s|d to s_d; prime North*lsland lambs, 281b to 361b at 5d to 5 l-Bd, 361b to 421b at 5d to s|d, 421b to 501b at s|d to sfd. ■.;-: ."But now look at these account sales of a New Zealand firm — the British-New Zealand Meat and Produce Company. Reporting on May 21st, that firm's account sales show that a line of 697 lambs entrusted to the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company by Mr Alex. Aitkins, of the Koreone estate, brought up to top prices quoted for the primest Canterbury lamb, namely, s|d. The same firm's account sales for a line of 633 lambs from Mr F. Ross, of Bruntwood, shipped by the Kumara, show that they brought 6|d per 18 for prime quality, again equalling Canterbury, top price; and 903 lambs from Mr Alex. Orr, of Morrinsville, also went to sj*d per lb. "This conclusively proves that Auckland can produce, and is producing, lambs equal to the best produced in Canterbury. The net return for these- lambs after all charges are paid will be" s^d per