THE MEAT TRADE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13957, 17 July 1909, Page 6

THE MEAT TRADE.

NOTES FROM AUCKLAND. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 16. The glut in the London meat market L- not likely to lead to the householder obtaining cheaper dinners. At first sight it would appear that the excess r.f supply over the demand at Home ■n'o'uld result in a decrease of exports

from New Zealand, and consequently a jrreater supply to the local markets. i That would mean cheaper. carcases to Catchers and should mean less expen- - sire meat to consumers. However, the obvious conclusion has to be modified for one reason or another. j Mr Stringer, local secretary of the 'Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, stated that it had'come fortunately at a. time when there was no stock for export. This was the time of year when stock and meat were always dearest, 3nd it would be January before the export set in again, and by thai; time it was hoped 'the glut would be over at Home and the demand normal onco more. As it was now, a between-sea-sons period, butchers would not benefit to any extent, as fat stock was not offering in tie proportion it was in the .flush of the season. Should the slump last until the beginning of the next export season, farmers would, he thought, no option but to bring down their prices. Auckland exported very little mutton. It was nearly all lambs, which were not a household commodity to any" extent, though no doubt iif it were cheaper, it would be more largely bought by families. Dis- - russing the relative price of meat to •the consumer here and to the Home consumer, Mr Stringer remarked that ft had to be remembered that Home quotation for mutton at say 3d per lb represented the wholesale price for a line of carcases. The English buyer did not purchase merely to a leg of mutton at that price, but 100 sheep or more. In the case of local butchers he bought at catch prices, guessing the weight of the sheep or lamb. Even though he got 6d per lb for a leg of mutton, that was not to say that he averaged that price for whole sheep°as he bought it. The point was often raised, but the householder at Home did not necessarily get his New Zealand mutton- cheaper than the New Z-alander. -He might pay as much as 8d tkt lb for it. However, it would be difficult to get at.the price of meat to the local butcher in bis shop. It was not only the butcher but the farmer who kept prices up. Enquiries made amongst representative of the butchering trade went to show that glut or no glut, retail prices .-.re not at all likely to be reduced. The slumn has come along-since the « xperters sent out their last shipment r.rrl manv of them are now bewailing their ill-luck. The present effect, howrrcr, is mostly felt by the large sheepowners, who deal practically in bulk and shio direct to the Home markets in preference to doling out their stock to the local trade. For this reason the butchers sav it is not at all likely that thev will be able to buy cheaper and sell at reduced prices. They argue that the slump will cot tempt the large growers to split up their flock ami deal them out piecemeal. Even were the slump to last until next export season so far as lambs are con-

cerned it was thought probable there ■would be any reduction in prices. The growers would simply.hold their lambs back and sell at a later opportunity as mutton.