LOW MEAT MARKET

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 36, 13 February 1933, Page 10

LOW MEAT MARKET

'HAND TO MOUTH'

"The lamb market is easier owing to pressure to. sell increased arrivals, from Australia and New Zealand, and owing to buyers' following a hand-to-mouth policy. Trade lias been slower during this week."

The lamb market is thus summed up in the London market report (dated February 10) of the New Zealand Meat Producei'S' Board. ThoJ report sums up the other meat markets as follows:—"Mutton market: Stocks of wethers are light, but prices are weaker .in sympathy - with lambs; the market for ewes is riuiet, with trade slow. , Beef market: Slightly easier owing to reduction in -prices' of Argentine chilled beef. Xew Zealand porker pigs:. Prices lower, with trade slow owing to milder weather." 1

The report advises that the following/are the* approximate average prices realised for the week ended February 10, based on actual transactions of wholesale quantities of the descriptions of meat mentioned, and are for representative parcels of the goods offering during the week, being for business done on the basis of delivered to Smithfield market and/or gx London stores. Prices for the preceding week, and the week before that, are also shown:—

New Zealand Sheep.—Canterbury and North Island selected crossbred wethers and maiden ewes: 481b to 561b. 4*id (4 5-Bd, 4%d); 571b to 641b, 4%d (4 7-Bd, sd); 651b to 721b, i 5-8 d (4%d, sd), North" Island crossbred wethers and maiden ewes: 481b to 561b,'4%d .(4 5-Bd, 4 S-Sd); 571b to 641b, 49id (4 7-Bd, sd); 651b to 721b, 4 5-8 d (4%d, sd). Ewes: 481b and under, 3 5-Bdd (3 5-Bd, 3%d); 481b to 641b, 3d (3d, 3 l-8d); 651b to 721b, 2 5-8 d (2%<1, 2 7-8 d). , .■:■■:

New Zealand Lamb's.—Canterbury: 361b and under, 371b to 421b, and 431b to 501b, not quoted; second quality, average 301b, 4 5-8 d (4%d, 4 7-8 d). Other Smith Island brands not quoted. New season's: Selected North Island brands, including Downs: 361b and under, 6 3-8 d(6 7-Bd, 7%d); ,371b to 421b, 5%d (6 3-Bd, 7%d); 431b to 501b, 5 3-8 d (not 'quoted); second quality, average. 301b, 5 5-8 d (O'/id, QYsd). Other North Island brands: First quality, 361b and under, 6d (6%d, 7d); 371b to 421b, 5%d (6d, 6%d); second quality, average" 301b, 5 .3-8 d (5%d, 6.1-B'd). ■ Australian Lamb (new season's). —Victorian, first quality: 361b and under, 5%d (5 5-Bd, 5 7-8 d): 371b to 421b, 4%d (4%d, 4 7-8 d). ( '■ ' Argentine Lamb.—First quality\ (new season's): 361b and under, si4d (5 3-Sd, 5%d); 371b to 421b, 4%d (sd, sd). New Zealand Beef—Ox fores, 3d (3 l-Bd, 3 l-8d); ox hinds, 3%d (3%d, 3?id). Cow fores and hinds not quoted. - Argentine Chilled Beef.—Ox fores, 3%d (3%d, 4 l-8d); ox hinds, 5d (5 3-Bd, 6d).

Australian Frozen Beef. —Ox crops: Over 1001b, SYtd (3 3-Bd, 3 3-8 d). Ox hinds: Over 1601b,.3%d (3 7-Bd, 3 7-Sd). New Zealand prime porker pigs; 601b to. 801b, 5%d (5 5-Bd, 5 5-8 d); 1011b to 1201bj'5d (5%d, 5 3-8 d). New Zealand baconer pigs: 1201b to 1601b, 5d (3d, sd).

The Bank of New Zealand, Produce Department, has received the following advice from its London office as at close of business this week:—The frozen meat market is short of supplies of wether muf> ton and prices are nominal. There is very little'inquiry for ewes. The marr ket ■ for lambs has declined, and the demand is very poor. -The market for beef is easier owing to competition from other sources. Prices: —Wethers, light, 4 5-8 d to 4 7-8 d per lb; heavy, 3%d" to 4 5-Bd. Ewes, 2 3-Bd' to 3 5-Bd. Lambs—2's, 6%d to 6%d; B's, s%'d to 6d; 4's 5%d to .5%d; seconds, 5%d; to 6V4d. Os, hinds, 3 J/4d to 3%d; fores, 2 5-8 d to' 2 7-Bd. Cow, hinds, 3d to 3y*d; fores,,2 3-8 dto 2 5-Bd.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February 11. Australian lambs: Victorian, first quality 361b and under, s%'d; 371b to 421b, 4%d. Other States: First quality, 361b and under, 49id; 371b to 421b. 4%d. Victorian: Second quality, 361b and under, 4 5-8 d; I other States, second- quality, 361b and i under, 4%d. All States, third, quality, j average about 261b, 4 7-Bd, Australian sheep: First quality crossbred and/or merino ■wethers, 401b'to 651b, 3%d; second quality, 301b to 551b, 3 3-8 d; ewes, 301b to ■ 551b,"3 l-Bd. Argentine sheep: First quality crossbred wethers, 481b to 641b, 4%d; 651b to 721b, 4 l-Bd. Australian pigs: Firsjt quality, 601b to 1001b, average about 801b, 5%d; 1011b to 1201b, sd.