HOME MEAT MARKETS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVI, Issue 8627, 8 December 1906, Page 7

HOME MEAT MARKETS.

Impressions of a Commercial Man.

Some Friendly Advice

Mr Harold Beauchamp, a Wellington commercial man, who returned yesterday from an extended holiday in England and the Continent, told a Pod reporter that he thought New Zealand could anticipate satisfactory markets for some time to come. Hemp, tallow, wool and pelts were all in active request and fetching good prices. He did not attach much importance to the fall in price of short and coarse wools, in the October sales, as previous values were generally regarded as abnormal. The recent jump in the price of cctton would, undoubtedly, favourably affect the wool market. The butter and cheese outlook was encouraging. He feared a bad future for the frozen meat market, especially as regards mutton. Very large shipments will be made by Australia and the Argentine and while there had been a steady improvement in the quality of Argentine, there had been a corresponding deterioration in that of New Zealand. The result is that the meat from both countries is now level in price. He gave utterance to a well-timed remark—" Wake *ip, New Zealand!" A London gentleman connected with the trade had written to to him in the middle of October, and stated in the course of his letter that disappointment was felt that New Zealand mutton had not taken a higher position. The first importations gave promise of fine quality. The writer was of opinion that one of the chief causes of deterioration was the far too large exportation of the best lambs. The Argentine people, while only sending a few lambs, had been steadily improving their mutton, until they are now almost able to control the market prices. The correspondent advocated more care in preserving quality, and condemned the selling forward (c.i.f.) business. The New Zealand lamb trade holds its own, but tends to weaken the quality of the mutton.