THE PRICE OF MEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 204, 28 August 1902, Page 3

THE PRICE OF MEAT.

The chief plank put forward by New Zealand federalists in their agitation in favour of New Zealand joining the Australian Union was that a market would thereby be opened for her produce. - It was pointed out at the time that Australia could grow as cheaply as our colony every description of produce,' and that in the event of drought she must perforce buy from us. During the past few weeks the latter part of this argument has found ample proof. Australia, as a result of a severe drought, is drawing so largely on New Zealand both for stock and general produce that the equilibrium of our local markets has been disturbed. We have evidence of this to-day in the rise of meat one penny per pound all round. For some years there has been a steady upward tendency in the price of meat till a level has now been attained which will make it necessary for the careful housekeeper whose purse is a restricted one to curtail the consumption. Only a few weeks ago mutton went up a half-penny a pound, and now an addition is made which on the average means between five to eight shillings per sheep and between £3 and £4 per head of beef. This money is apparently going into the pockets of the farmer, rather than the tills of the middleman, and times are good for those on the iland. The steady growth of the dairy industry over a number of years has kept beef firm, with a rising tendency, and coming on top of this the Australian demand has naturally inflated prices. Meat to-day is far more expensive to the consumer than it should be in a pastoral country like this. The Wellington trade, in an interview with the Minister for Lands the other day, stated that they could not advance the price further, and suggested the drastic expedient of an export duty, but the Auckland butchers apparently have not the same fear about advancing prices to their customers. To the latter there remains no redress beyond reducing their consumption till prices readjust themselves, partly as a result of restriction of the retail market and partly because of the stimulus to increased production. The proposal to restrict farmers in the freedom of their market by imposing an export tax is too preposterous a proposition to be seriously entertained.