GOVERNMENT PRODUCE COMMISSIONERS REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 11, 14 January 1901, Page 4

GOVERNMENT PRODUCE COMMISSIONERS REPORT.

Wbitihg under dfate Lonlon, D-icem-ber 1, the Prjrjano Oomaiiisioaer of tbe AgrioulyGral Department) jajs th" mutton market his for soma time bee* ia rathur a peculiar position The de mecdVbas been very slack on the part of retailers bet stock* are ia few hands asrfrl firmly held at good prices. Ths Unseasonable weither has hindered the consumption of mutton, although it has b*n favonrable to the sue of lamb, which ha; been realising 5£4 to 6d per lb or ljd to 21 per lb more than at this season last year, end •becka are welt cleared. Australian lambß have not jet commenced to come forward in a'y quantity, and though there are some Datch we ling cb'aply, New Zealand lambs continue to ie:. well in tpita of that competition. If the present prices could'le ma'n'au eJ for all New Zealand lanjis th»t cme Home throughoct the lamb season bo* much batter it would be fo- the color.y than selling them ta is so i f e t dom at 3|d to 4i per lb. This I believe coalu reid.ly be obbained if on'y sup anpp'iiS were curtailed aad market! enstqnett y not glutted as they so cfte.i have been, This opinion I hav» held for a very long time and it <"a some y«*rj since, from my experience of the trade in this country, I wrote urging the retention of fat ewe lambs in tha colony for breading purposes rather than slaughtering them for shipment. I am greatly pleased to see that at )ar>t thire is some agitation in the colony to prevent the exportation of iw.< lamrs and I trust it may be suec stfcl in bringing about an improve msnt, not only of prica obtainable here for lambs, but in the quality of and coaFeqaent increase in demand for New Zisland muttoo. Prices for mo tt in are, and Lave been for semtj »e?ks, good, beiDg from 3|d to per lb., with another \i par lb. for prime light ve'ght Canterbury grade*. I oily feel disappointment that ths sole cau'eof t*iese high prices should be sbortPge of Bopplies. Bwf h*s not been selliug quite so well lately. This marki t is rated ao entirely by the supply of American chilled he'f tha* any change in the qi< t>. ioas of that affect' tbe New Zealand beef t'ade at once. Seferring to th« grading of charsr>y the Drputoar nc the Commissioner say: "I do not think there is the slightest! doubt bnt that this will have as b*n*fijial an fff ct upon the qiality of cheese manufacture-! as the system has already uadoul>tfdy had in the im(.r >vemenc of tbe quality of hatter. Grading rout ultimately le of the greatest assiataEo Bo buyers as well bb to, prodscen in d'termioing relative V-ilur cf produce. The oheese market is itite Itjbe in a firm conditloo, socks (f finest being smali.