THE BRITISH MEAT MARKET.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3208, 17 January 1893, Page 2

THE BRITISH MEAT MARKET.

From* the Fome papers we learn that prices for live stock, particularly sheep and cattle, have been ruling unprecedently low. At the clearing farm sales hold frequently in Scotland, sheep and lambs have brought smaller figures of late than lias been known for several decades, the exceptions being choice ; animals for breeding purposes. This result is mainly owing to the enormous quantities of live and dead meat regularly poured into the chief centres of population from foreign countries. It has been frequently stated that London alone, with its teeming millions, could never bo over-supplied with sound cheap ; meat, but the fact is becoming patetitcnough to all, that the great metropolis is even now over-supplied, and the chief hope of colonial exporters must lie in the direction of a n 1 ore complete distribution of our supplies of mutton, dairy produce, h,, all over the United Kingdom, Much has been done in this way, but much still remains to do. Agencies and retail shops for the sale of colonial produce ;must be established everywhere. Not only would a complete organisation of this kind tend to maintain fair prices, b.it it would prevent the periodical glut in the supplies. These do much to depress the market ratos below what they would otherwise touch if the supply of colonial produce were better regulated. Late quotations-of the meat: markets are as under

perSlbs. Prime Scotcli Wether Mu' ton 'ls 4d to4s Sd l'riine English, i!n, 4 S to 4s 2d I'ritne ?c 'tp'i I'tivf 4s4dtn4sSd Selectnl X.Z. Fra'n Mutton 2sßdto2slod Prime N 'A. Tunil> 3a Ordinary N.Z. Mutton ... 2ssdto2s7d

These quotations mean a shade over 4d per I'd for lamb ami 3Jd for mutton. On the fame subject Messrs IT. Fitter and Sons reportWe are pleased to be able to report a great improvement in the condition of the meat lately arriving from New Zealand, and we are convinced that it only requires proper care while in the ship to bring frozen meat in almost perfect condition. With regard to the present low value of sheep and cattle, we have no doubt that the result will be that some of our farmers will, for a time, stop raising so freely, for they have certainly lost very heavily this season. Tin demand for best qualities of New Zealand mutton continues fairly good, but it is most difficult to sell the plain sheep in consrqncnec of the low price at which Australian sheep are heinn offered. The Ameiiean beef trade is decidedly better, aiid although there is a large proportion of plain beef still arriving the prices are firmer and the outlook is brighter.