South African Produce on the Oversea Market. 87 



White Granulated Sugar was of excellent quality and was 

 expected to be admitted in time at a preferential rate of duty. 



71ie Wattle Bark market remained very firm, owing' in a large 

 measure to the extreme shortage of stock and big demands from the. 

 Continent, prices for parcels afloat being quoted at £18. 15s. for 

 ground and £18. 10s. chopped. The demand for chopped bark 

 increased later on, particularly for shipments direct to Antwerp, 

 Marseilles, and Bordeaux. Wattle Extract was quoted at £44 per ton 

 on account of the demand exceeding the supply. These conditions 

 prevailed till the close of the year. Some delay in the delivery of 

 the November bark extract shipments was occasioned owing to deten- 

 tion by the Customs Authorities on account of the alleged sugar 

 content of the material. Tlirougli tlie energetic intervention of the 

 Trade Commissioner the parcels were eventually released. 



Meat shipments were well reported on, both as regards quality and 

 butchery. Bdcon shipments were satisfactory, but Fork was defective 

 in August. The manner of slaughtering and preparing for export 

 left much to be desired, especially in the November shipments, which 

 had a deleterious effect on the market. For Beef I he quartering* of the 

 hinds was deficient; they can with advantage show 94 instead of 85 

 joints of the vertebrae. It is also thought that much will be gained 

 by chilling tlie meat before quartering. Union meat shippers should 

 prepare for keen competition in the near future, by having- first-class 

 shipments for the London market. 



Horns came in demand in August, with the result that of the 

 125,000 South African ox and cow horns offered 124,000 were sold. 



Poultry and eggs were prominent in September, and continued 

 very popular. The shipments gave consideralile satisfaction. As the 

 Russian supplies of the past could not be depended on, all supplies 

 from South Africa are welcome, thus affording an opportunity for the 

 South African trade in this line of becoming established on the London 

 market. The e^g shipments for November of 3831 cases were quite 

 satisfactory as regards condition, quality, and grading; the demand 

 was good, and no difficulty was experienced in disposing of them. 

 The condition of the Christmas consignment of turkeys was very good, 

 but not of fowls and geese, the latter being inferior in size and 

 quality. Prospects for frozen poultry remain good, but shippers must 

 put up their goods in an attractive manner, paying due regard to' 

 proper grading, packing, etc. Some small parcels of turkeys, geese, 

 and fowls were found to be unfit for sale. 



Exhibits. — The Trade Commissioner mentions that the show 

 window exhibition continues to arouse a good deal of interest. He 

 has arranged for an extensive programme of exhibition in the United 

 Kingdom and on the Continent, including a special display of 

 ostrich feathers. It is intended later on to transfer this exhibit to 

 Paris. A special display of the principal produce from the Union was 

 put up at the Utrecht Fair (Holland) on the 24th February. The 

 display will be transferred to Brussels early in April. Arrangements 

 are also being made to have the South African fruit export trade 

 represented at the shows of the Royal Horticultural Society, the 

 Royal Agricultural Society, and at the Bath and the West of England 

 Agricultural Shows. The Swiss Government has invited the Union 

 to be represented at the Dominions Exhibition to be held in Lucerne 

 in July next. 



