FROZEN MEAT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14328, 19 October 1910, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT.

ADVICES BY MAIL. Messrs Gilbert Anderson and Co. report by iiiail under date London, Sept. ■J:h: —"The weather continues to play a very 'iuipuriaut part in the ruling ol the market, the consequence of so many changes being that the trade may still he said to drag on. Prices of lambs, however, show improvement all round irom last week, and the call on. light grades of lamb and mutton continues. Canterbury mutton is practically unchanged as regards prices, but Austraiiau aud Plate show an advance of an id. Canterbury lamb has advanced an id for all grades, with Southlands and \\ellingtons a sixteenth better. The sale of beef does not improve, but forequarters of New Zealand, Australian, aud River Plate are quoted an Jd dearer. Trade on the market to-day cannot be described as satisfactory, although bearing in mind the state of affairs ruling, it finished good.''

The S.C. and D. Company report under date Loudon September 9th:—

During the last four weeks trade in the Metropolitan markets has suffered appreciably from the holiday seasou. The quanties passed through Smithfield have been below the average but fully sufficient for the requirements of the situation, and occasionally have only been disposed of with difficulty. English mutton shows a sharp decline in value during the" month to tid to (>Jd per lb, but at this, price is making fully Id per lb mora than a year ago. when competition from Continental supplies was fairly severe. Scotch sheep; which are in moderate supply show less fall at 7d to 7id per II). The Scotch hill lambs are now coming forward, but not in such large quantities as usual, aud are .selling at fJid to liid per lb. English lambs are quoted up to 8d per lb. The general demand on the provincial markets has not been good, and it is a little difficult to find a reasonable explanation. The lock-out of shipbuilders on the Clyde and Tyne will have a bad effect on business if continued for any length of time, but it is generally hoped that it will come to a speedy termination. Pork is scarce and dear and beyond the. purchasing power of the poorer classes, but rabbits will now be coming into competition with other frozen meat New Zealand Mutton.—The vca'r's receipts now amount to 1631.830 eareases, an excess of 36",05S carcases oyer last year's figures. The position" is very sound aud gives a firm tone to the market. The stocks in store are moderate and in few hands, and the cargoes afloat ar« not larger than are likely to be required-. Under these circumstances, some improvement in values has been established and should be maintained. Canterburv brands are comparatively scarce and 3Jd per lb is easily made for the best light carcases. Heavier sheep sell down to 3sd per lb. The stocks of North) island sheep consist maiiilv of light weights, and these are worth 3=d per ,u re ?" lm we 'S"ts command 3fd per lh. hut heavy sheep are selliudown to 3Jd per lb. Ewes have not ad" ▼"need proportionately and can still be bought at 3d per lb and under. south American mutton is still short of last year's figure bv 236 537 carcases. As with other frozen mutton stocks are on the light side, but although nominal quotations show some improvement, the actual averages show tic tie movement. '

Australian mutton Arrivals hare uoe.i heavy .amounting to 234.8°3 car-c'-u.'s out although the year's receipts t-ftovv taie remarkable increase of 1 089 - •M? carcases, the meat has been pu'c m.o consumption, with unusual facility au-i stocks at the present time are in qui-, manageable compass. Values in i.ic. show some appreciation during the menta, and, at the close, good liidit wetners are worth up to 3Jd per lb, aud t P" H» » the bottom value of other de=tnptious. The meat appears io be gumg more satisfaction to uuvers than tor some years past, and enquiries for rutuve shipments are plentiful. 'rr . "h i T h -~' Xhc totfll r <**ipts •ion all all sources are onlv 90 196 caicisos in excess of last year's figures at the same date, but there is a %asb Oihttoiico m the corresponding ~iar K"Ks lliere is little doubt that at the r,,Tni n . leasou1 easou h wiU be fou »d that 1910 has been one of the most sue Zn■« TlfT shi W >ors Iw-ro experir i v v , ilrgo of 1,6317= .^ eff , Ze:lh "»l lambs has been reused and nearly all been disposed of without any undue accumulation of and without any severe fluctuations in values. The demand has been ti?> U £ mCd ilt , a Iligh level throughout thj season and even with the demand deciaedly on the wane, there i s ™ for forward delivery are being placed at va.ues fully equal to what can be obtained '"off the hooks." Good uVfit G.teiburys have changed hands t ojd per lb, but these are extreme Pnees. North Islands range from to od per lb. and it is onlv the heavily W xr' ltS f T Wllk!l ''">*« «™ lacka ,-° < ! , , Mti 't'<Jn can be given for Australian lambs, but some South Americans have been sold at Ud per