WOOL AND MEAT.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1924, Page 4

WOOL AND MEAT.

A PROMISING OUTLOOK. CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 3. “Generally the outlook for New Zealand's primary products is very promising.” said J-. G-. ileidmau, Christchurch manager for Dalgetv and Co.. Ltd., in the course of an interviewyesterday. Alt- Herdman has just returned from :i trip to the Old Country. Whilst there he investigated the position of New Zealand's products on the London market.

As far as wool was concerned, said Air Herdman, the outlook was most promising and probably the prices realised this season would he higher than ever before, it was a mistake to suppose that these prices wore going to continue for alt indefinite length of time. No doubt there was a shortage of sheep in the world and the amount of wool required was becoming greater each year. However, there were other factors that had to he taken into consideration and one never knew what might happen in the‘next lew years. In any case farmers should not run away with the idea that present prices for wool were going to continue for all time. They were altogether too high. Referring to the meat market. Air Herdman said that New Zealand lamb easily took first place oil the Sinithlield market. No lamb that came to London from other countries could compare with New Zealand lamb. Ihe same remarks applied to mutton, though not perhaps to tlm same extent. As for heel Die best oil SmiDilield was the chilled heel front, the Argentine, lie had inspected some ol the Argeit11io beef and he considered that it was Dio best lit* had ovOt' so mb There seemed no .doubt that New Zealand was up against it as far as beef was concerned. Air Herdman inspected Hie dairy produce markets in l oolev St. and he is of the opinion that New Zealand dairy produce compares very favourably with any that arrives in London from other parts of the world. Danish butter certainly had a great name, hut lit- thought it was only a mime foi- it was in no way superior to New Zealand butter.

With regard to the Wembley Exhibition, Air Herdman said that it was most interesting and gave a splendid idea of what the British Empire was capable of producing. It- was a great education lor any Briton to visit the Exhibition and see tin* products from the various dominions and colonies of the Empire. There was a really wonderful display in Die palace of engineering. He had heard that there had heen li lot of adverse eritioisin of Die New Zealand pavilion al AVemhley. Some of this, he thought, was due to the fact that New Zealand was late in getting a start with the result that when tin* Exhibition opened all of the exhibits were not in order. However, as time went on the display was improved. and eventually il was. in his opinion, finite creditable. lit* though! that New Zealanders had expected too much. Residents of the Old Country with whom In* had spoken thought most highly of the New Zealand pavilion. They thought more of il than did New Zealanders. Continuing. Alt' llerdinan said Dial it was oxlraordinary to him how ignorant some people still were of New Zealand. He had im-t people at Home who thought that New Zealand was part of Australia.

As far as trade at Home was concerned both businessmen and tradesmen complained that filings were not too good, although this was not apparent to a .stranger going to London. The streets were crowded and (lie shops appealed to he doing a good business, but those who knew stated that business was by no means good at Home. Oik* thing that impressed him with London was tin* cleanliness of the .streets. He considered that London had cleaner sir. els t hull any other big i ily he had visited.

Resides visiting Dreat lirilaiu Ah Herdman. alsu-liok a trip througli Ulance and Switzerland, hut as lar as scein-ry i- coiucrm-d !:•• did not see anything in l. -al New Zealand scenery. I hough lie had si n same very beautiful spots. due of Die most impressive war memorials he had seen, said Air Her.!, man. was the one in Paris where a liana* is kept burning coniinuously- in a hollow at the base of lie Arch do Tl ioinplie. Ur*' li w real 11. were laid I I a i I \ al Die. shrine which reiiid a. a ini-niorial for I la- w hole ol Uraine. Mi 11 ei* iuia a weal Dome via Pan.iam and rciurncd via T*-i,e rilfe. South Africa and Australia. Referring to Smith Alrica Air Herdman said that during Die last “D years that country had made pieat strides ill I In- matter of sheep breeding. Not only Rad the number of sheep increased greatly, hut Die qualify of Da- breeds had improved.

ADVANCE OF STERLING. In foreign exchange markets the outstanding feature has been the wonderful advance of sterling on New York, which is contrary to usual experience at this period of the year, when seasonal demands generally have the (.'fleet of depressing the value of the pound. The upward movement commenced with Mr Baldwin's victory at the polls and received a fresh impetus from Coolidgc’s sweeping victory. The advance has hcon continued. to-day’s rate being French francs, on the other hand, show much weakness, due to the Government's financial position, which compels it to borrow on onerous terms to balance the Budget. YORK TEXINSrr.A BARLEY.

Samples of York Peninsula (Australia) barley, shown in London, attracted much attention and favourable comment. One judge said he had not seen better during an experience of forty years. Mr Al. ('. M'Glew. representative of the York Peninsula farmers, is sending samples to all the leading brewers and several have promised to try them in brewing. lie is hope!id that good business will result. lie will meet a number of brewers in conference and wi,ll explain the possibilities of Australian supplies and stress the desirability of brewers taking Australian in preference to Californian and Continental, which they chiefly use at present.. Australian Chevalier is quoted al (ios per quarter, c.i.1.: Cape malting nos.

THE BETTER MARKET. The downward movement in butter which commenced a fortnight ago continues. From now onward prises are expo-led to decline. The movement, however, is likely to be gradual, as .though future supplies are large and no great ouanlites will arrive before the cud of November. Buyers are full’.' aware of the statistical position and therefore are onlv tilling immediate requirements. The advent of the filed parcel of Kangaroo brand has been well boomed by the High Commissioner of Australia, and much interest lies been evinced, importers think tin* new brand may have the effect of bringing the best Australian a shilling or two nearer the New Zealand price, bid butler under ninety-two points ilikdv to suffer.

THE WINE TRADE. Australian wines continue in receive much attention I nun the trade papers. A writer in the '‘Wine Trade Revow” says he recently tested an extensive range of Empire red and white wines, and had to revise the whole of his preconceived ideas, not only on the score of the improved general standard, but with regard to certain red and whites, which specially appeared to him as worthy to put before most men without fear or favour. The

writer advocates pushing Empire wines by getting every wine merchant ami off-license holder to stock some of these good wines. It is still more important to get them into every list, both wholesale and retail, for at present many wine lists circulated among the trade do not mention them. THE METAL MAKKKT. The feature of the base metal market is the steady advance of lead, of which supplies here are very small. One cause is the hasty demand from derma ny's whose production last year was only .'lo.flT) tons, compared with 1S8.0!It) tons in 1913. Oct many is likely to require large quantities of pig iron for some time.