MEAT PROSPECTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15542, 10 June 1921, Page 4

MEAT PROSPECTS.

HOME-KILLED v. NEW ZEALAND PRICES.

It may he difficult for the New Zealand farmer to understand how frozen meat is maintained at such popular prices in Great Britain to-day (writes the London correspondent of the Rost), not only in view of the existing dearness of all other commodities, but in comparison with tl|e Home meat supplies, which have actually increased rather than diminished during the past six months. Home-killed meat was always, by its quality and predominance in quality, more or less independent of frozen meat in the price market, and it is extraordinary that-, in spite of the high level to which values have advanced of late years, this independence of the Romekilled article in relation to the imported supplies should actually have been increased.' Blit so it is, and to-day we have cattle selling at £5 10s per civt., live weight, in the English markets, as compared with almost, £1 cheaper a year ago, and 30k cheaper in 1019.. The Home farmer lias, indeed, been favor ed, and particularly' so when it is borne in mind't-hat winter feed costs have been lighter this 'season, and some other charges reduced. It- is only fair that the New Zealand farmer should know these facts, but it should be added that tins great disparity between the two trades may be found to diminish before long. Each trade, in turn here has had to, share in that painful process of deflation so necessary after the great war, and although British farmers have put: off\ the evil day, they cannot postpone it much longer. The working classes fit Great. Britain will this summer be poorer than they ever were, perhaps, for the,, past ten years, and frozen meat will be their mainstay. AMPLE MEAT SUPPLIES ON HAND The cold stores of the United Kingdom are now full to repletion, and the stocks may be estimated at about nearly a quarter of a. million tons, or about one-third of the total annual imports. New ’Zealanders know the main causes for 'this, but it should be emphasised that one" of the contributory reasons is the lessened capacity of the European market. Changes rapidly occur, and it would seem that France is even now tired of frozen meat, and anxious only to supplement- her home supplies with the soft-suyfaced chilled meat for which she is looking to Argentina. The new season's lambs are making a penny less than the Is realised by the New! Zealand carcases, and a further penny drop is the level m rates made by the staler New Zealand lambs to hand via. the United States. 'I he frozen mutton business lias become a little more lively than it was a month ago, but nearly all the demand is for the smaller New Zealand wethers, which at 9|d per lb on Smitbfield make a full Id more than the. heavier weights, ewes being a very slow salo at less than Bd. There is a good deal of bright Argentine meat about, but, the River Plate sheep tire onlv priced on a- level "with the heavier* New Zealand carcases. The frozen’’beef trade, of course, is moro or less at a low ebb, only 7d being made as a top price, for New Zealand prime ox hinds, arid 5d for secondaries. Australian meat-being about on a par with this. In a word, it may be said ot Die entire frozen meat market that decontrol has resulted in lower prices, with the exception of a small amount ot the choicest meat. In fact, the Government, in order .to clear its remaining stocks, has been obliged to furnish the selling agents with a schedule of minimum metend of maximum prices, rates which show a 4d decrease on the whole maximum level. _____________