SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 896, 20 May 1903, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET.

THE MEAT RING-

By Telegraph—Press Association— Wellington, last night.

Mr Gow, Trade Commissioner for South Africa, writing to the Department of Industries and Commerce irom Durban on Aprii 10th, says New Zealand ought to be able to do a fair trade in potatoes, but owing to the experiences of last season merchants are disinclined to order from either New Zealand or Australia, because they can buy from English and French growers with a guarantee of condition on arrival. The French only use rose seed, the seed being bought at 6s per case of GGlbs net, c.i.f. New Zealand stout feed oats hold a big preference on the market, the military having bought and distributed them largely. Owing, however, to the troops having been removed, the military are offering for private sale many thousands of bags. “ But,” says the Commissioner, “ there will still be a good deal of buying done. The prices at which New Zealand merchants offer to-day are Gs 3d and Gs 6d per lOOlbs, c.i.f., whereas oats can be brought from South America at 5s 9d to Gs. New Zealand bran is fairly well liked, but merchants do not consider it as good as Australian, Victorian especially, and apart from thi3 New Zealand prices kill business. Argentine bran can be bought at 4s 6d per 1001 b, c.i.f., but New Zealand prices run from 6s 6d to 6s 9d.” |

In regard to butter the Commissioner says that very good shipments have lately arrived from New Zealand, and the feeling towards it is a great deal better than a few months back. Victorian butter is, however, preferred. It does not seem to contain so much water as in New Zealand, and the color is better. j

Mr Gow makes the following remarks on frozen meat and beef: —“ As you know dealers are at the mercy of the cold storage companies here, but the only reasoD why the latter have not bought more largely from New Zealand is that prices have been too heavy. They have nothing to complain of as regards quality, except that the mutton is too fat. It will be very diftcu t to get within the ring which is being formed amongst different cold storage companies, each of them having large interests in the Argentine Besides ship ping frozen meat and mutton, tney are bj every steamer bringing large quantities of live "stock for slaughter Tne prices at which New Zealand could interest these companies is 4d per lb c.i.f. At present New Zealand prices range front 4id to od and even morei' 1