COMMERCIAL

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 48, Issue 14611, 9 March 1922, Page 6

COMMERCIAL

SLUMP IN BEEF PRICES. LONDON, Tuesday. The Australian Press Association learns that the New Zealand Government has definitely refused \ estcy s offer to the over the beef m stoi i in London, while Australian lamb and mutton are selling well. The market for Australasian Omen beef is still deplorable, beef being hardly saleable at fiR Mr* Jowett (representative ot Australian producers), interviewed,_ stated that the chief causes of the beef slump are the bad effect on the public mind of the old stock and the relentless war being carried on by importers of Argentine beef, which is being sold below cost. He believes that -a quick remedy can be found, but it would entail the finding of a large sum of money. The remedy consists in the acceptance of Yestey’s offer to relieve the British market of the whole of the old beer, amounting to 150,000 quarters, selling the same at the best obtainable [nice on the Continent, for which Vestey s demand a bonus of £IOO,OOO. If this sum could be found, Mr. Jowett believes it would turn out a profitable investment for Australia in the long run. He is o opinion that the farmers and people o Australia ought to be made aware ot the precise situation before the Government breaks off negotiations with Vestey ’s. Mr. Jowett says the Australian producers do not realise the terrible prejudice of the people in Britain against the accumulated old beef. He poims to an interview in the Yorkshire Observer, in which West Yorkshire butchers declared that the old Australian beef was quite unsaleable in the poorest industrial areas, describing it as a poor third-rate article compared with Argentine, though he is personally satisfied that when properly thawed and cooked it is not distinguishable from the best fresh beef. Mr. Jowett also points out that a similar prejudice existed against Australian mutton and lamb last year, but as soon as the old stocks were clean'd out in January the prejudice quickly disappeared and prices rose rapidly. He believes that a similar result will follow the immediate disposal, of the old beef, the enhanced price for new shipments quickly recouping the outlay entailed by accepting Vestey’s offer. — Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. ADDINGTON MARKET.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. There was again an exceptionally big yarding, practically all the space in the yards being monopolised. There was an all-round easing and more passings in both cattle and sheep than last week.

Store sheep.—There was a fair clearance, good ewes selling spiritedly. Lambs were slightly easier, particularly the poorer sorts. Forward rape lambs ,1.4 s fid to 16s Id, good lambs Ills 4d to 14s, medium 9s 6d to 12s, small and inferior 7s to 9s fid, cull 4s to 6s 9d, good 4 and 6-tooth ewes 18s 9d to 225, good 18s 9d to 21s, ordinary 14s 9d to 18s, low-conditioend and inferior 9s to Lis 6d, inferior 2-tooth ewes 11s 6d to 14s, good five-year 12s 6d to 15s fid, rape 7s Cd to 9s fid, cull 2s 2d to 2s fid, good forward 4 and 6-tootli wethers 15s to 17s 2d, fair 12s to 14s 9d, inferior 9s 6d to to 11s 6d, 2-tooth 11s 6d to 15s fid, inferior 2-tooth 9s fid to 11s. Fat Lambs—There was a further casing, the over-all price being GR Extra prime lambs 22s fid to 2os, prime 18s 9d, medium 16s fid to 18s fid, light and unfinished lfis fid to 16s.

Fat Sheep.—Good prime wethers practically held their own, but all other classes were easier, particularly heavy ewes. Fat Cattle. —Extra prime steers £ls to £l9 ss, prime £lO 10s to £l4, medium £8 to £lO ss, inferior £6 5s to £7 15s, extra prime cows £8 15s to £lO 2s 6d, prime £5 10s to £8 ss, ordinary £3 5s to £5 7s 6d, prime heifers £6 to £8 10s, ordinary £4 to £5 15s.

Store Cattle —Three and 4-year steers £4 to £4 15s, 2-year £2 to £2 10s, yearling steers 15s to £1 2s 6d, 2-vear heifers £4, yearling £1 17s (id to £2, medium cows £1 7s (id to £1 17s Gd. MASTERTON SALE. The Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association, Ltd., Stock Department, report: —In the Colombo road yards yesterday we offered 770 head ot cattle, mostly well-bred and good-condi-tioned. Competition was limited for all classes of cattle, a number of pens failing to realise the vendors’ reserves under the hammer. However, we did good business by private treaty, close on 500 head of cattle changing hands during the day. We quote: Four and 4A-vear bullocgs £4, £4 os, £4 12s Gd, £4 16s to £5; 21 and tU-vcar steers £2 10s, £.3 2s Gd, £3' 15s, £3 17s 6d, £3 16s, £4 Is to £4 4s; 11-year steers £1 12s Gd, £2 7s Gd, £2 ,10s to £2 15s; If and 21-ycar steers £3 ss; 2-year heifers £2; Hereford heifers r.w.b. £2 7s Gd, yearling steers and heifers £1 10s, £1 12s Gd to £2; fat cows £2 17s Gd, £3 to £3 15s; fat heifers £3 19s; empty cows £1 2s 6d to £1 12s Gd; cows and calves £1 19s 2d to £3; forward cows £2 10s. The Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association, Ltd., Stock Department, report:—Yesterday, in the Colombo road yards, we offered a small entry of sheep to a good attendance. Competition was keener than was the case last week and we made a total clearance, excepting one pen of lambs. Quotations: Two, 4 and 6-tooth ewes 16s 3d, 4 and 5-year ewes 10s 2d to 13s 2d; 2-tooth and 4-tooth wethers 13s Id, and 12s; fat ewes 11s to 12s 7d; 2-shear Rycland rams Signs.