WHAT THE FROZEN MUTTON TRADE HAS DONE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3103, 4 June 1892, Page 2

WHAT THE FROZEN MUTTON TRADE HAS DONE.

■• Undek the table of " The Absorbing Topic Again " " Ovis " in the New /oaland Country Journal, writes in the following reassuring manner -.—Feed is plentifulsuperabundant would perhaps be the mure cotrect term—the prices for sheep have ranged abnormally high during the past two or throe months, and the wool market has taken a decided change for the better. All this seems good enough ; and if it does not mean prosperity it looks uncommonly like it. Taking all classes of sheep into consideration, there has been more money in sheep during this autumn than has been the case for many year.- past. Anything bearing the semblance of a sheep, has not only been saleable, but saleable at profitable prices. Compare the state of the sheep market now to what it was in ISS6, not to mention two or throe succeeding year.-!, and it will be seen what the frozen mutton trade has done for the country. It has not only been the saving of sheep owners, but it has clone more than anything else to save the whole country from absolute bankruptcy. The men who stuck to the frozen mutton trade, and supported it all through, and did not lose faith when the majority were inclined to give it up as a bad job, have doue more for the country than all the politicians. Liberal or Conservative, put together. It took a long pull and a strong pull before tho trade could he placed on a satisfactory footing, or such a footing as rendered a fair profit possible to the producer. Middlemen under all guises, lay in wait at every turn to intercept the goM.'ii stream ; and all these had to bo fought mid brought to reasonable terms.