FROZEN MEAT MARKET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 4004, 5 January 1892, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT MARKET.

■;;Aalatoresttwf.Lofe.: : '' The following extract from a pri, vale letter from Mr Joseph Gould, bf Messrs: Gould, Beaumont & Co, bf Christchu'rcb.'datid London, Novem* ber Bth, will be rend with interest :- "Over here I think tb.ings.are not looking well, as there is no doubt that the QiijitintioM strikes are seriously diminishing the gross amount of wages earned by the working classes, and'as a consequence thevare not using as much of anything n 8 they did two years ago, Again the rise of 30 to 40 per cent'in the cost of bread reduces their purchasing power for other things, arid as a consequence I am told the consumption of meat is materially lessthau it was eighteen months ago, which partly accounts for the drop in the valueot our mutton. I think,hopvfr, thattkeinmvaseof five millions iu the stock of sheep in Great Britain has more to do with it, combined with '.our largely increased shipments which have blocked our ohannola, "■There is no doubt, too, thht ttio bad season has prejudiced the market The dryn9.« of the spiina and the large number .of sheep on the pastntes, .pryvenfed farmers making the usuh! provision for winier keep, and in theautumn they were all wanting to sell.storea, and anything .that would at all pass as fat was pushed into the nurket and sold for what it would fetch. The first result, is, of course, a serious drop in values, which has made this a ray bad year for sheep farmers, and "the good price obtained for'grain is causing a good many farmers (o declare that they will reduce their number of sheep and againreturutogrowino grain, The present lowprioes are stimulating the I consumption of frozen mutton, and on all sides 1 hear it said that the meat is good,' and. the old prejudice Beams disappearing. At the same time! have been told on several occasions in the city that North Canterbury meat is not what it used to be, and that from Napier a lot of very coarse over-fat mutton is 'sent, At the same time this is not an unmixed evil for our fanners, ns it must end in an increased demand for our mutton, and as the British "farmer reduces his flocks .the price of mut'.on and wool must rise.

" The sudden rise in the quantity shipped has simply smothered the people over here, as they were quite unprepared for it, and could not eren find storage room. That is being put right, and if our increase next year is not too great, and if Australia does, not send too '-'much (which she threatens at present to.do), I think meat prices will harden. I note that the RivorPlaießteararea are carrying as ninny asIOO.OOO carcases in one cargo, but tho meat is of poor quality and small size."