6o6 The Provision Trade in September, [oct., 1910. 



English and Irish pigs are slightly cheaper on the month. Curers 

 continue to complain of the shortage in the numbers available, and 

 find trading difficult in competition with the cured product of other 

 countries. 



Cheese. — The trade has again been unsatisfactory, both in regard 

 to the volume of business and prices obtainable, as although the 

 Canadian August makes have been on the market it has been difficult 

 to secure a higher figure for this description, and prices show very 

 little change for the entire month. The make of cheese in our own 

 country has continued good, but dealers complained of a large per- 

 centage of irregular quality on offer, brought about by the wet season. 

 Strictly fancy selections realised full prices, but all offerings below this 

 description have been bought at several shillings per cwt. less. 



Prices cabled from Canada have shown little variation during the 

 month, and importers have been able to contract the September makes 

 at practically the same prices as the earlier or inferior makes. The 

 exports from Canada for the season up to September 17th show a 

 decrease of, roundly, 35,000 cheeses. At the end of the month the 

 estimated stock of Canadian cheese at the three principal distributing 

 centres (London, Liverpool, and Bristol) were 363,000 boxes, against 

 325,000 last year, and 313,000 two years ago. This shows an increase 

 of 38,000 boxes over last year, and with the smaller shipments men- 

 tioned above, a decrease in the consumption of 73,000 boxes of Canadian 

 cheese. In the United States best cheese is making 705. to 725. per 

 cwt. 



Buyers continue to hold off from contracting the new season's 

 New Zealand cheese, the price demanded (565. 6d. to 57s. c.i.f.) being 

 in their opinion too high. 



Butter.— The demand has been fair for strictly best descriptions, 

 but the lower grades, of which large stocks are held in cold store, 

 are difficult to sell, chiefly on account of the exceptionally mild 

 weather experienced throughout the month. With colder weather 

 these would doubtless more readily go into consumption. Prices 

 show only very small changes during the month. The arrivals from 

 Australia have been large for the time of year, but unusually small 

 from New Zealand. Advices from both these countries report 

 weather conditions as favourable for a large make. 



Arrivals from Canada continue very small. In the United States 

 best selections are making equal to 1505. to 1545. c.i.f. 



Eggs. — A fair trade has passed, though the high prices have some- 

 what curtailed consumption. Most descriptions are is. to 2s. dearer 

 on the month. 



