LAMB MARKET IN ENGLAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19009, 9 May 1924, Page 8

LAMB MARKET IN ENGLAND.

REPORT BY PRODUCERS’ BOARD. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 7. At a meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union information was received from the Meat Producers’. Board relating to the recent activities of the board. It was stated that the'latest information from the board’s 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 a fair quantity of lamb was disposed of owing to the fact that it was impossible to gain any suplies of chilled beef. On cessation of the strike, however, held-up shipments of chilled beef simply flooded the market, and Smithfield slumped very badly. Most of the retailers laid in heavy stocks of chilled beef, upon which they are making fine profits, and no doubt pushed beef against lamb. The demand for lamb has been very disappointing during the last month. The weather is still cold, and this no doubt has affected the sale of lamb.”

The last cabled advice from the London manager, dated May 3, says:— “The lamb market is now strong, with good demand.” It was hoped thut with the enormous number of visitors expected in London for the Exhibition,, greater demand for N.Z. lamb wquld be created, more particularly as the lamb season usually commenced about Easter. The board’s London manager has cooperated with the High Commissioner in bringing pressure on 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. The board was now receiving from its London offices regular reports by an inspector who was appointed recently to watch the unloading of vessels at the other end. The presence of this officer had already led to better handling. 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 damage occurs.