LONDON MARKET.

Wairarapa Age, 8 May 1924, Page 5

LONDON MARKET.

NEW ZEALAND LAMB. UP AND DOWN. (Press Association—Copyright.) Wellington, May 7.—At the meeting of the Dominon Executive of the Farmers’ Union information was received from the Meat Producers’ Board relating to the recent activities of tne Board.

The Board stated that the latest information from its London manager respecting the recent setback in lamb prices was as follows:— “Up to the time of the strike the lamb market appeared to be fairly firm and during the strike ft fair quantity of lamb was disposed or, ow ing to the fact that it was impossible to obtain any supplies of chilled beef. On the cessation of the strtße, however, the held-up shipments of chilled beef simply flooded the market and Smithfield slumped very badly. Most of the retailers laid in heavy stacks of chilled beef, upon which they are making fine profits and, no doubt, they pushod the beef against the lamb selling consumption. “The demand for lamb has been very disappointing during tho last month as the weather is still cold, and this no doubt has affecte the sale of iamb. ” The last cabled advice from the London manager, dated May 2, says: “The lamb market is now strong, with good demand.” It was hoped that with the enormous number of visitors expected in London for the exhibition a greater demand for New Zealand lamb would be created, more particularly as the lamb season usually commenced about Easter, The Board’s London manager has co-operated with the High Commissioner in bringing pressure oil the present Government to get them to insist upon the stocks of refrigerated meat held in cold stores being published monthly as was done in America and elsewhere. INSPECTOR’S REPORTS} The Board was now receiving from its London office regular reports by the inspector who was appointed recently to watch the unloading of vessels at the other end. The presence of this officer already had led to better handling, and through his reports the Board had been able to institute several improvements. The officer also attended surveys for damage and thus was in a position to locate where the damage occurs. —(P.A.)