Frozen Meat Trade.

Manawatu Herald, 20 September 1894, Page 3

Frozen Meat Trade.

ReporD ob 1 Mr A. Dowers* Southeast ToWer, Smithneld, London, E.C., August 10th, 1894. There has scarcely been a favourable feature in the Frozen Meat Trade during the past four weeks. The pressure upon the available Storage. adiJotiiniotlation . continues; and vessels cannot discharge their cargoes immediately on arrival. The state of things has now continued for weeks, depressing values. Added to this some firms have unnecessarily forced sales, accepting absurdly low prices, and rendering trade unremunerative to themselves, if holders of stock, or inflicting considerable loss on consignors. This state of things is very unsatisfactory here, and the present quotations both of Mutton and Beef will make this most apparent; Arrivals have inoluded " MorayBhire," " Eangatiraj" " Otarama," " Rimiitaka," and " Tainui." In Mutton values have touched the lowest for years, and there is no present indication of an advance. The supplies of all grades cf New Zealand Mutton are plentiful, and with Australian grades the same remark applies. The very low quotations now ruling are most disappointing to growers. In Lambs there is, at time of Writing, an improved demand, and values are firm with a rising tendency. This month, when the bulk of summer visitors are at seaside resorts, there should be a quickened demand for Lamb. The demand for Beef, consequent upon the strike in Chicago, quickly subsided, and since then lower values have ruled ; aud as with Mutton the range has been the lowest for years. Stocks are slowly disappearing, and this with more limited arrivals, give the only hope of an immediate improvement in prices. Hinds certainly are slightly firmer, but the continuance of this movement depends * largely on i the supply of American Chilled Beef. The present quotations are — Mutton— Per 8 lbs - New-Zealand, Best North Canterbury .'. ... 2/5 2/6 New Zealand medium and gdod grades.. •• 2/- 2/3 Australian and Queensland Sheep . . < . 1/5 1/6 Lambs — Best North Canterbury . . 8/2 3/3 Other Brands .. .. 2/9 2/10 Bbkf — Queensland, Hind Quarters .. .. 1/0 2/8 QueenslandForejQuorter3 0/11 1/-