The Stock Market.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1717, 7 August 1885, Page 3

The Stock Market.

T it!.., e> tin’ St who-.1. A common topic for discussion in the Wai.ouajia at t-.c present juncture is one of d. ep interest to every sett'er in the district, v:.the deck maiket. In common with many Ufcers. I n. serve that an old established Wtiiingicc rirm, Messrs J, H. Wallace A Co., art tnneavi utieg t<» promote fortnightly salfs (f fat stock in Wellington. I have lo doubt hut that my nngbhi nrs wili i"in me in wishing the enterprise every success. During many seasons mis district has been entirely in the bunds of two buyers, tin representatives of two Wellington Meat Companies. These gentleman, acting no doubt tinner insttuctious from head quarters, have hetii s-uwiy but surely reducing their price.for stick, until it Las retched a point that leaves lo prrhi whatever fur the producer. tut 1 nliecks that a few seasons igo fur t.ilii to nine pounds, have- late.y sold as iow as six to seven pounds, or ti.e rate of 12s lo 1 Is per li.Hibs, and even -utL it was only r.= a favour that they could Lc uispused of. Tile usual cry of the buyers has Leeu. " Wo can offer you no better price, and if it Tea not meet your views, we have plenty of fat cattle under offer in tre lUngiukei district, aud can purchase ti.ore." Tue iongiutteting stockowner thercfiu has been under the painful necessity of accepting their offer, and in nine case: out of ten has iud t u hold his cattie four and even six nst.mhs aft-r they were fat, waiting for the Company's buyers to take delivery. During th- l.*-t few years the small butcheis in Wellington have been purchasing dead meat from tne Companies, at the rate- of from les to 22s per IOO.b, the Companies thus making a profit of. on an average- 7s per ionics in ad nmn lo £2 per head value of hide, fat and offai. From the e hearts it V'i.s le stiL iLi.t, iu that line of trade alone, a profit ut at least £4 lbs has been made by ti.tse who.cdais meat monopolists. This season lut-ir,representative* have, by a deeply laid scheme, g .ne quietly round the district, and at cured an ihe available stock fur forward delivery at the- laic- low rate. The settlers, on comparing notes, have discovered that one and a,i Lave been caught in the trap, and at tuo present lime, although there are tbousaUiL: of fat bullocks in our Valley, there arc none that remain uusoid. A rise iu tne retail price of meat is now on the ojpu, and such rise will benefit the Companies auc.o, v,i.u:t iho producer in iv look on and cu v.- tu-j nitter cu iof reflection. Well may tuc W Mirarapa stock laEc-rs yearn for the successful estabiisument of a stock market, tvhoic tieaiiuy c-'.-mpetitidn will insure us fair vaiue fur our produce. From a settler »no was preedit at Wallace ec Co.'s second Sam, I leaiu that bullocks which the Companies' Lavas refiistd as not tit fur their Uudo, .-via at £7 17s per Lead, or 22s bid per loinb, ,-in-.i tiie si.; LI butchers no doubt, can n-aao a fair pruht oven at tint figure. I low leave my icllov settias to mike wu »t comment liny tnmk tit and subsarioa myself. Siv I’ouxi-.i Five.