THE MEAT TRADE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 217, 16 December 1909, Page 5

THE MEAT TRADE.

Ibe improvement recorded in the position of mutton and lamb on the Home market in the earty part of October is explained by the special Smithfietd correspondent of the "Pastoratists' Review" as being the result of the discovery that stocks were light and barely sufficient for requirements till the next season's shipments came along, consequently forward buyers bad to do business promptly to ensure supplies for the next few months. —Thfc Over Supply.— The increased supply of lamb—the prime factor—in bringing about lower values is put down, says this authority, at aboot a million carcases for the past season. New Zealand was responsible for <IOO,OOO, South America 300,000 and Australia 100,000. This season an increase on this is expected from this country, white the Argentine will also ship more. ■ —New Zealand's Policy.— Everyone agrees, says the Review's corrependent that there will be shipped next year quite as many New Zealand lambs as in 1909, and the opening prices will be, perhaps about 1 l-2d under the opening rates of the past season. But the average price for the whole season, the correspondent significantly observes may show an increase if shippers will only spread their goods over the twelve months. The correspondent remarks that it is to be regretted that the advice of Mr Gilbert Anderson that a cable should be sent to New Zealand advising regulation of lhibpments, to spread export over several months, was not taken. It is suyKt that there was a great 4eal of ScSftefc and Dutch mutton about, and being sold at a very low Office, earty in October, and this was checking any great advance in the price of frozen mutton. It is plain, he concluded, that the freezing works most have time to recover themselves from the disaster of 1909, the results of which to the last wholesale holders of the meat must have been appalling fa) many instances.