Untitled

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3101, 31 May 1892, Page 2

Wk bear a good many commeuca upon the curious anomaly which is presented by the low pricp of fat sheep, in the face of the sharp rise in butchers' meat in Auckland. | Fat ewes of good quality and tolerably heavy weights were sold at the Hamilton borough yards on Thursday last for 9s 6d each, and equally ' good sheep were passed in at 9s 3d. This is low enough in all conscience. These sheep have fleeces on them ■ worth about 2s each, so that the mutton would stand at very little over a penny per lb. In the face ! of this no further rise in the price • of store sheep can be expected. We should say that, if prices continue at anything like this, the proposed co-operative butchery in Auckland will, if properly managed, have very little difficulty in making handsome profits. Curiously enough, all down the Coast and in the South Island sheep of all classes, and particularly stores, are extremely dear, young crossbred ewes bringing as high as 18s each, while the demand for good sheep for freezing is practically unlimited. It would almost appear as if we had just at present too many sheep in Waikato for the available outlet. On one point it has been clear that for some time past good sheep of all classes have been dearer in Hawke's Bay and other sources from whence Waikato has hitherto, drawn its annual supply, than iir Waikato. This seems a strai.ge reversal of the old conditions. It would seem that we have been paying too much attention to the matter of importing than of exporting sheep, and the result is a partial glut. However, every facility is being provided by the Auckland Freezing Company for enabling farmers to ship direct Home, and to lessen the risk the Company will purchase half the lot straight out. More energy must certainly be put into the business of exporting mutton and lamb, failing which wc believe this district will continue to occupy its present unenviable position of being about the cheapest market for fat sheep in the colony.