REDUCED PRICES UNJUSTIFIED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 53, 2 March 1916, Page 8

REDUCED PRICES UNJUSTIFIED.

(By Telegraph—Eress Association.) -WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Complaints have reached the Government that dealers are reducing the price of fat cattle by 2/ per 1001b on account of the embargo on the export of hides. The producers claim that there is no justification for so substantial a reduction, and contend that they are being exploited by the dealers. The Prime Minister states that lie asked l>r. C J. Reakes. head of the stock division of the Agricultural Department, to report on the subject. Dr. Reakes points out that at the Wellington hides sales held the day after the prohibition was gazetted prices really showed a slight increase. At Auckland. 11 days later, good prices were obtained. Dr. Reakes says the market conditions so far have not warranted any reduction, worth consideration, in the prices of fat cattle on the hoof. Even in the extreme case of a possible, though unlikely, fall in values to the extent of lid a pound for hides, the consequent reduction in the value of a 7001b bullock on the hoof would only equal 1/ per 1001b.