THE MEAT MARKET.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 69, 28 April 1914, Page 11

THE MEAT MARKET.

Writing under date March 20tli, Messrs Weddell and Co. state that the trade for all descriptions of frozen meat has been very quiet and quotations are easier. LAMBS. The trade for frozen lambs has been very depressing throughout the whole week and prices all round are lower. The enquiry for Canterbury lambs has been slow and these are now quoted at 6£d per lb for the u/361b, 6id per lb for the 36/42 lb and 6£d per lb for the o/421b. Prime North Island carcases are weaker and are now selling at sld to 6sd per lb. Ordinary carcases are quoted at 5 13-16 d per lb and secondary carcases at s£d per lb. The demand for the Australian article is gradually falling off, and the only enquiry on the market is for heavy weights which are in short supply. We quote to-day g.a-.q. Australian lambs, u/3Glb at s§d to s|d per lb; 36/421b at 5 7-16 d to 5M per lb; o/421bs at sad to s;}d per lb. F.a.q. lambs are quoted at about id per lb under these quotations. River Plate lambs realise 5:1 d to 5M per lb.

MUTTON. New Zealand mutton of small and medium weight has met with a fair enquiry, and is selling at 4-kl to 41 d per lb for the u/641b. The o/641b grades are quoted at 4d to 4-Jd per lb. Ordinary North Island brands are offered at 4d to 44d per lb and secondary wethers at 3ld to 4!d per lb. New Zealand ewes have been selling at 3£d to 4Jd per lb according to weight. Australian mutton supplies consist of medium and heavy-weight carcases, and these are selling at 3§d to 4d per lb. Tor the few small sheep available 4sd per .lb is ob-tainable-if of good quality, but the bulk of sales are at 4d per lb. River Plate mutton is selling at 3!d to 4£d per lb. according to weight. FROZEN BEEF. The low prices ruling for the chilled article has affected the frozen beef trade, which has been very quiet throughout ■ the week. Crops are a shade easier and cannot now be quoted at over 3-2<l per lb. Hinds are offered at to 4ild per lb with few buj r ers at the price. River Plate fores are selling at 32d per lb and hinds at 4gd to 4£d per lb. New Zealand beef supplies are still short but the quantity available is sufficient for the present poor demand, 3ld per lb for fores and 4tcl per lb for hinds represents current prices. CHILLED BEjEF. The marketings this week have again been very heavy and with a poor demand prices have ruled low, particularly for fores which have sold down to 3kl per lb. The market closes weak at 3Jd to 3-2 d per lb for fores and 4£d to 5d per lb for hinds.