The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, SEPT. 22, 1888. Frozen Meat & Wool Quotations

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 45, 22 September 1888, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, SEPT. 22, 1888. Frozen Meat & Wool Quotations

The Press Association has been singularly inaccurate in supplying the quotations of prices of frozen meat and wool in the IJondon markets, and in conaequencehas excited severe comment in the South Island, and Wellington. The Timaru Herald says:— "The Press Association continue to he gn tulj neglectful in the matter of supplying information -with regard to the price of frozen meat in the London market," and after citing a number of instances goes on to say — "How long is the Press Association going to play the fool in this mutter ? The individual newspapers cannot help themselves. The cablegrams, such as they are, are supplied under an agreement for a term, and the newspapers must take what is sent. But surely the directors of the Press Association can take some steps to secure a change for the better. One vould almost think there was a purpose in the reticence, or scrappy and untruthful items, regarding the state of the frozen meat market ; and it is a fact that those interested in the prices have their suspicious that some wire-pulling is dime. Perhaps that is not the case. We do not dispute the agent's bona fides, but his reports being what they are, we are compelled to regard him as a blockhead in order that we may respect him as an honest man. 1 ' On the subject of the quotations for wool, the Post says : — " Very general disappointment has been experienced by North Island wool growers by the receipt of account sales for the third series of London wool sales which opened on 19th June and closed on 18th July. The Press Association had led them to anticipate prices at least equal, if not superior, to those realised at the previous series, but the result proved a most unpleasant surprise, for in almost every instance lower prices had ruled for the classes of wool which are grown iv this island. Merino wool had certainly maintained, or improved, its value, but crossbred, medium and coarse, had fallen off to an extent in no way indicated in the cable news. It is these latter wools tfhich are chiefly grown in this island." In order to show how the Tiopes of sheep owners were raised l>y the Association, only to be doomed ta disappointment^ the Post gives Che

wool reports as cabled, all favorable to the classes of coarse wools grown in the North Island. These messages certainly did not prepare North Island wool growers for a decline of £d to Id per lb in their wool as compared with the prices of the previous series, but yet this is what they have to submit i to. If the Press Association wishes i reliance lo be placed on their market . reports more discretion and discrim- | ination will have to be exercised. I