LONDON MEAT MARKET

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 95, 16 January 1920, Page 10

LONDON MEAT MARKET

Tho meat position here is causing much anxiety to the trade, the arrivals being | too heavy for tho available storage, and \ discharge of steamers is held up in con- j ' sequence, report Messrs. Gilbert .-ruder- i I son and Co., London, under date Novem- j ber 11. . • Owing chiefly to the rationing order i 1 and the prosecuting of butchers for serv- | i ing unregistered customers, the demand | ' has fallen at a time when, with I/nme- i ! grown meat ''plentiful and imported I j meats duo to arrive in quantities, the j consumption should have been encouiagied. The whole retail trade is dissatis- | fled with tho present conditions, and ; prrssuro is now being brought on tho I Ministry for free distribution. Retailers j and consumers elioukl have freedoni of purchase, and be allowed to purchase according to requirements both as to quantity and description. At prwent there is no difference in tlio price of lambs and ewes, hence, beyond actual allocations, I butchers aro not prepared to take the • latter, seeing that better meat can bo I obtained for the same money. Free , meat, suoh as frozen sundries, is also I affected by the position, tho Ministry i having power to demand withdrawal j from stores after seven days' notice. This order, owing to shortage of space, lias been issued to a number of holders, causing alarm, and thero has been an immediate stoppage of buying. It is impossible for holders to dispose of the "owls in the time stated, and it is now left to see how the Ministry will enforce it, thero being iio available storage for such removal. The whole position is uncertain, and prices, particularly in respect to mutton, will probably be lowered further in order to increase consumption. Prices are weaker for offals, and there is a rumour of tho maximum price order being amended. I Present market prices on "ex store" terms are:—Sheep's kidneys, Is. Ifld. per dozen; iamb's kidneys (slow trade), Is. Bd. per dozen; sheep's hearts, 3s. id. per dozen; inmb's hearts (slow trade), 2s. lOd. per dozen; ox hearts (practically unsaleable alone), s'd. to GJd. per lb. j ox skirts, thick. Is. to Is. 0-Ul. nor lb.; thin, lOd. to 10-Wl. per lb; ox livers (heavy supplies of American), Bd. per lb.; ox kidnevs (bright kidneys are scarce), llkl. to Hid. per lb.; ox tails, lid. to 11-Jd. per lb.; ox tongues (good demand), Is. l?,d. per lb.; tripe, uncooked i\d. to sd. per ib., cooked 7d. to Sd. per lb. The condition of frozen sundries generally is poor. Bright goods are badly wanted. Veal is free again except for prico control, and top price, less market expenses, is obtainable, i.e., SJd. per ib.