BRITISH TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1920, Page 4

BRITISH TRADE

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT.

AVELLINGTON, Dec 22. The High Commissioner’s cablegram, dated London Dec 18th, ie as follows: MEAT. The fresh meat trade was brisk early this week, but the market was quieter later, owing to the competition of Continental meat. The absence of chilled beef supplies was noticeable. The average prices are:—English beef, Is 4.)d per lb; mutton, Is 74d per lb; lamb, Is Id per lb. Imported meat has had a fair trade. BUTTER. The price of British butter has tended lower this week. The Irish market is very depressed, and prices are much lower. New salted is quoted at £l9 per cwt (3s 43d per lb), and stored is nominally £l6 16s per cwt. (3s per lb). Danish is now free, and purchases have been made on British account at £l4 16s per cwt (2 7s|d per lb). CHEESE. Very littlo business has been done in English cheese this week at last quotations, viz., £7 10s to £9 6s per cwt. (Is 4d to Is 8d per lb). Irish is quoted at £’fl 4s to £7 per cwt (Is ljd to Is 3d per lb). The Canadian spot market *is steady, and quotations are: AVhite, £7 8s to £7 16s per cwt (Is 33d to Is 43d per lb) ; coloured £7 14s to £8 per cwt. (Is 4Jd to Is 5d per lb.) C.I.F business is practically finished for this season. The latest offers are £7 to £7 5s per cwt (Is 3d to Is 33d per lb). HEMP. The Manila market is quiet and easier. “J” grade October-Deeember shipment is quoted at £57 10s per ton; January-March shipment £55 per ton. The New Zealand market closed dull at last quotations, viz.: Spot high points £54 per ton; fair, £52 per ton, hut prices are purely nominal in the absence qf business.. WOOL. The wool sales have closed. The attendance was large throughout, but competition was slow. Conditions have not improved since the opening, and two days’ sales have been cancelled. The total offerings were 54,093 hales, instead of 80,000 bales, including 8903

bales'of New Zealand. Good medium , quality New Zealand wool realised about last sales’ prices, but finer grades declined, and coarse -were neglected. Tlie average closing'values were: 60’s to 64’s (merino), Is lOd to 2s 7d per lb ; 50’s to 56’s (half-bred), Is 5d to Is lid per lb; 48’s (fine cross-bred), Is 3d to Is 5d per lb; 44’s to 46’s (medium cross lneds), lid to Is 3d per lb; 36’s to 40’s (coarse cross-brcds), lOd to Is per lb. , All prices were more or less nominal, as less than one-third of the total ofloiing was sold. At yesterday’s free sales (5000 hales of Australian "'ere offered, and met with good competition. Practically all was sold at about 10 per cent below tho Government limit.