FROZEN MEAT MARKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1920, Page 8

FROZEN MEAT MARKET.

SHIPMENTS TO AMERICA. Prospects of the New Zealand frozen meat trade are still obscure. Sales of lamb have been reported at lOd per II). f.0.b., and offers to buy mutton at 2d per lb have likewise been announced. However, fresh, prime Canterbury quality lamb to-day is believed to be worth fully lid per lb on the London martlet; but it is understood that there is no appreciable business in next season's meat being done at present. The quantity of meat in store on British Government account on November 30th last, for which no space has been provided, was equivalent to 3,885,000 carcases. The season was then about opening. The quantity so held in store nt June 30th last was 6,380,000; but it is expected that between now and December a heavy clearance of this meat will be made, and probably not more than 3,000,000 carcases will be in store when the new season opens. The market prospects for mutton at present are not bright, with so much of it in cut and telescoped carcases. Much of it, too, especially that held in Great Britain, will be "old" meat in .the sense that it has been a long time in store. At the same time shipments of Imperial fiovernment meat from stocks stored in Now Zealand to the United States will relieve congestion here, and will also open the way for further shipments on private account. Already some 700,000 carcases of lamb have been despatched from New Zealand to America, and. 'n addition, a million carcases, including a limited quantity of prime, lightweight mutton, is to be got away to this market by about the middle of next month. There • may, after all, hi; a heavy clearance of the stores by the time the new season's meat is to conic on the market.