THE MEAT MARKET.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13334, 24 March 1911, Page 4

THE MEAT MARKET.

It lias been reported from Wellington that the coming winter would see a beef famine iu New Zealand, and also an era of dearer mutton. On making inquiries locally a “Herald” representative was informed that beef was certainly going to be dear, one gentleman stating that he had never known it to be so scarce in Wanganui at this time of the year. Fat cattle had been sold locally to go to Christchurch, and there were practically no cattle olloring at a price to permit of their export. Bo said it frequently happened that Auckland and Christchurch buyers were dealing here in the winter, but he had never known them to operate so early in the year as the present summer. The reason for the shortage was no doubt that a large area of new country was going into dairying, and the opening up of new country would also account for the absorption of a large number of sheep which might otherwise have been frozen for export. Similar reasons for the shortage were assigned in Auckland. The statement that Southern farmers are rushing mutton pell-mell into the freezing chambers, owing to the shortage of feed through dry weather, was to some extent discounted by those interviewed, it being pointed out that the busiest time in the freezing trade was between January and June, there being notjung from the figures available to show that anything abnormal had been done in this respect. Taking the export for the whole of the Dominion, however, there would probably be an increase to record for the season, but this would only bo a normal increase. With regard to beef, there had been a wholesale slauglr terinor of calves in many districts, owing probably to the fact that the beef market was overstocked last season. In spite of this, it is not anticipated that values, although they might be a little higher, will reach anything like famine prices. As to the consumption of mutton, the suggestion that the New Zealand public may bo forced to largely dine off its own frozen mutton is not taken seriously in Auckland. Although the quality might not ho up to the usual standard, it was considered that the usual quantity of fresh meat would still be available.