FROZEN MEAT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 55, 11 April 1914, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT.

Messrs Weddel and Co., writing on March 6 anent the frozen meat market, state: — Lambs.—A steady trade has been experienced for all descriptions of frozen lambs, and prices are firm at last quotations. We quote to-day prime North Island' carcases n/421b at 62d per lb. Ordinary carcases are selling at 6d per lb for the u/361b, and 6£d per lb is still obtainable for the 36/421b. Secondary carcases meet with a good demand at s|d per lb. Australian lambs are firm at unchanged prices. To-day's quotations are s£d per lb for the u/361b, 54d per lb for the ;56/421b, and 5-£ d per lb for the o/421b. F.a.q. lambs are quoted at Jd per lb under these quotations. River Plate lambs are quoted at 5Jd to 5-gd per lb. Mutton.—New Zealand mutton of small and medium weight continues to get scarcer, and anything of good quality now realises 4£d to 4f d per lb. The heavy weights, however, are being offered freely at Ud and 4Sd per lb, with few buyers at the price. New Zealand ewes are a shade dearer at 3~13-16d to 4 l-16d per lb x according to weight. The shortage of small and medium weight New Zealand mutton has brought about a demand for the Australian article, and this is now selling steadily at 3|d to 4d per lb for good medium weights. Very heavy weight carcases, however, do not realise more than 3Jd per lb. Small sheep of best quality realise 4Jd -to 4 3-l6d per lb. Light weight ewes are scarce, and 'realise 3-Jd to 4d per lb. Medium and heavy, weights, however, can be pur- j chased at 3jjd to 3gd per lb. River j Plate mutton is practically unchanged: I from last week at 3fd to 4d per lb for J the heavy weights, and 4d to 4-} d per I k lb for the medium weights. - Frozen Beef.—Although values are practically unchanged,, there lias -been veiy little trade for frozen beef this week, owing to the low prices at which it has been possible to obtain the chilled article. We quote to-day Australian, crops at 3 15-16 d to 4d per lb, and hinds at 4i}d to 4sd per lb. River Plate fores are selling at 4d per lb, and hinds at 4id per lb. New Zealand beef is quoted at 4d per lb for fores, and 4M per lb for hinds. Chilled Beef.-t—The marketings this.'* week at Smithfield have been very heavy,'with the result that prices show ; a considerable drop* front, last. - Fores have been sold down to 34d per lb, and hinds 4Ad per lb. At the close, however, an improvement lias taken place, and prices "are slightly firmer at 3fd per j Jb for fore-?, and 4|d to 4§d for hinds.