FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14476, 24 June 1911, Page 7

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

O. 0. AND D. GO'S KEPORT. .In their mailed report dated LouSon 12th. May the Colonial Consignmeat and Distributing Company suite that while the choicer descriptions of Home-bred meat and chilled beef have been in request at very fair prices during the past four weeks, the markets for frozen mutton and iamb have been characterised by severe depression during the greater paart of that period. The weather has been genial to an unusual degree for the time of Tear, and altogether favourable to the demand for lamb, but altlwugh the Consumption has been large, tlie pressure to sell has resulted in declining prices. A better tone in froze % meats generally prevails at the close, and it would not be surprising to see established the recovery for which all seo tions of the trade are ready. The mild weather naturally makes buyers cautious in their operations, and there is already the usual summer tendency to confine purchases to the end of the week markets. A 6mall shipment of jthilled beef from New Zealand; arrived by theMuritai, and was landed' in better oondition than any previous experimental shipment from that country. Home-grown mutton rules a little cheaper and is not in much. request, aft&ough the supplies are moderate; Lambs have beeayfairly steady, from Bjd to 10$ d per IV. New Zealand Mutton.—The': arrivals during the montlt amount carcases, end the total receipts for the year. 756,318 carcases, efiow an increase of 112,442 eajcaseg. The competition between importers jto .'effect Bales • produced steadily "weakening prices "until the current Nprth Islandß of average weight and quality were sold as low as 2fd per lb,, and even at this price the seem to satisfy holders. Future shipments are expected to\be;light and ft strong - speculative enquiiy. -has, set an. There is not much Rotable change as yet, hut the market* tcis a distinct firmer tone, particularly for forward deliveries. ?ontixme in short supply and * t&e * few which change banak make 'abdut ; «3}d to 3|d per lb. The quality, <*f.,many teceat shipments bean far 3 from Satisfactory, and requests ~'for ~ rorreys lave been* frequent.

Sotrih African Mutton.—Hie large ratrty of 808,364 carcases has eoxne hand during the month juh3 £be fear*® receipts of 1,141,906; (greases fchow an increase of 227 ; 6J6 rgdrcr&tes. !*he firmer tone which. prevails for New Zealand mutton has not extended so far to this - are no good light carcases f on the market, and these if available would probably make 2£d .per Jb* The medium weights only command 2fd per lb, and neavy sheep-eeHv-dawns'to 2|d per lb. Importers are 'pressing sales freely. Australian Glutton.—Arrivals have Kght, only amountingj|o 121,673 Carcases, and the years* receipts,

1,025,804 carcases, now fall short of luit year's figures by 16,609 carcases. There lias been little dillieulty in selling this mutton, but at unsatisfactory prices. The current quotation is only to 2-|d per lb, and on many Provincial markets a considerable redaction on tktise iijjures haa been accepted. At on© tirno ewes were to be obtained at barely more than 2jd per lb, but at tho close are getting scarce «.ud are worth 2id per lb. New Zealand Lamb. — Receipts amounting to 515,212 carcases in the month taxed the market severely. The total imports amount to 1,867,193 carcases, or 195,188 carcases iu excess of last year. The demand left nothing to be*desired, and the downward movement of prices can only be explained by speculative operations and weak holders. Canterbury** of the most saleable weight were freely offered at one time at 42d per lb. It is now known that the> shipping s?ason will close early, and that the May shipments will probably be moderate, and sellers liave stiffened their hands. Prices for Co-nterburys have improved to 4* to 42 d per lb without in any way checking: the demand, and a further upward movement is expected. North Islands find less favour, and) the best can still be bought at 4fd per lb, and the small plain carcases, which at the moment are scarcer, are worth Bid per lb.

Australinn Lamb.—Only 72,212 carcases have ooroe to hand and stocks are being rapidly reduced. Values are slightly firmer without showing much quotable change and 3sd per lb is now being made with less difficulty for the best carcases. • South American lambs have been in evidence (104,477 carcases arrived during the month) and have made fully ns much, money on average as Australians. .