MEAT EXPORTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 July 1924, Page 5

MEAT EXPORTS.

QUALITY MUTTON. OPINION FAVOURS RIVER PLATE. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRF.BR ASSOCIATION PALMERSTON N., July 17. The following extract from one of the leading importing firms in London, which was received in Palmerston, is illuminating in view of the recent strictures of .the Meat Export Control Board. The extract reads: “We find that South American sheep appear toSfae in sufficient supply for the demand, and supplies were held back when the market went particularly low here, with the result that there is a little more afloat from that country. It is a definite and undeniable fact and one we cannot be too emphatic about that Plate sheep have entirely taken possession of the mutton market previously held bv New Zealand, and that, •apart from a small trade in the very best descriptions of New Zealand sheep, there is very little business indeed for other descriptions. “In our daily visits to Smithfield we have continuous and tiresome complaints from stallholders regarding the sale of New Zealand mutton on Wednesday. One of our clients had about half a dozen—(a well-known Dominion -freezing works) of sevens left on the hooks unsold, together with one Plate sheep of equivalent weight. . We were asked to give an opinion as to the best quality sheep on the hook<s, and unfortunately we had to find in favour of the Plate sheep. “It must be admitted that the best sheep had been sold earlier, but the graded prime cost to the stallholders (bought well) was 6 7-8 d for the New Zealand and sfd for the Plate. It is not to be wondered at that, for every ten New Zealand sheep clients sell, they sell 100 Plates with less trouble. The quality of the New Zealand sheep this year, probably owing to the drought, has been poor, and too- few choice sheep are coming over. The bulk are no better than Plate and the prices are out of proportion. The same applies to lamb, which is ridiculous, we think. “New Zealand second graders, ordinary brands, are making Kkl a pound. It is making that price at the inoment (early in June) simply because there is very little Australian lamb for sale.”