FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XI, Issue 1719, 6 March 1895, Page 2

FROZE N MEAT TRADE.

The following report from Mr A. Towers, dated London, January 25th, re Frozen Meat Trade, is just to h md : The tendency of the market during the past four weeks has been steady. Values having been forced up to a remunerative level they remain there, and with mutton, in particular, there is no prospect of much improvement in values. The stocks in London of New Zealand brands are still heavy. But for this fact the upward movement Would have gone further. Canterbury t r inds have rather receded than otherwise during the past few days, and there is a want of tone with ail qualities of mutton.

Australian Mutton has depreciated from id to £d pier lb during the past fourteen days, the supplies of River Plate mutton having been greater. With mutton generally the outlook is not so favorable as in former years at this season. It is j ust as well that all interested in the trade in New Zealand should know this. We have generally had a high range of values, from 3s to 3s 4d about February, but this year there is no indication of mutton rising to this point. The rise has luken place in former years in a general way, owing to bareness of supplies here, and it is a question if there Have been such heavy stocks here at this season, in any previous year. It is just possible that these stocks may not be sufficiently reduced before heavy arrivals again come forward, and should this turn out to be the case the outcome would be a congestion of stocks again and a repetition of the low values which were experienced in the autumn of the year just closed. Lambs. —A few new season goods have arrived, but the quality is not Al.

Beep. —Quotations have advanced owing to a good demand early in the month, and the knowledge that the next arrivals will not come forward for two or three weeks. The visible supply here will scarcely hold out until ttien. At the same time, there is a diminution in the demand on account of the enhanced values, specially with forequarters. The present quotations are : MUTTON—

Per 8 lbs. New Zealand, best North Canterbury 2s 8d—2s 9d „ medium and good grades 2s 4d—2s 6d Australian and Queensland sheep 2s Id —2s 2d BEEF— Queensland, hind quarters 2s 8d—2s 9i „ fore quarters 2s 5d—2s 6i