The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY CORNING. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1909. FROZEN MEAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2636, 19 October 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY CORNING. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1909. FROZEN MEAT.

There is every indication that the present season will prove one of (the most satisfactory experienced by New Zealand farmers for many years to come. Not only are the prospects for crops of all kinds, and also for stock, exceptionally good, but it appears probable that prices will once more approach 'tho level at which they stood for many j-ears. Wool has recovered handsomely from its temporary slump and the latest news is to the effect that mutton and lamb have at last taken a distinct forward move. Yesterday’s cables quote North Island Mutton at 4jjcl and lamb at 4g-. These figures compare with 2g-d ruling two months ago for mutton and 2«d for lamb.- In other words, mutton shows an advance of 12 and lamb l£-d, or more than fifty per cent, increase in each case. There is no reason to suppose that the prices now reached may not continue for some tune to come, for the slump in mutton and lamb was brought about by quite exceptional conditions. AH the chief exporting countries had large supplies, and they dumped their stocks on the London market just at the time when the depression, at. Home made the British artisan less able to buy meat than he had been for a lengthy period. The natural result was that the cold stores in tho English metropolis were filled to overflowing, and still every vessel from Australia and New Zealand continued to bring supplies. Down went the prices until at one time prime New Zealand mutton could be bought at Smithfield for less than 2d per pound. Now it appears that the tide has turned, and the demand is rapidly overtaking the supply. There are still large stocks on hand, but they are greatly reduced in volume, and as this is the slack season for Australasian shipments, the middlemen are beginning to build on a possible shortage, and their speculations have forced up the price. It would bring tho last touch of irony to the situation were the same year which produced the worst slump the frozen meat trade has ever known to likewise record a scarcity and high values at its close. Yet with the haphazard methods which prevail in regard to distribution, such an event, though improbable, is by no. means impossible. In any case it can safely be said that with, poor supplies from tho Argentine, as the result of a prolonged drought an that country, the farmers of Australia and New Zealand are likely to get very much better prices for .their mutton and lamb during the season that is,-now opening than they were compelled to accept a few months back.