BEEF SHORTAGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 226, 23 September 1943, Page 6

BEEF SHORTAGE

LOSS TO BUTCHERS

POSITION IN AUCKLAND

"The continued acute shortage of fat cattle was evidenced at the Westfield markets yesterday," said Mr. H. C. Bridges, president of the Auckland Master Butchers' Association, this morning. "Prices soared to the extremely high level of £3 for 1001b, which is as high as the price reached four weeks ago." Mr. Bridges added that the retail prices of beef, as determined by the price order, were based on supplies of fat stock being available to butchers at a price not exceeding £1 19/ per 1001b. It would be seen, he said, that a bullock weighing 7001b, which might be bought at present prices, represented a loss of £7 7/ to the butcher. Notwithstanding the high prices being paid, butchers were unable to obtain sufficient quantities of beef to meet current demands.

The local difficulties of short supply were further accentuated by the operation of country butcher's on the Westfield market. In an attempt to relieve the shortage, a quantity of beef was recently made available by the Marketing Department. This supply had now been exhausted, and it appeared that the present unsatisfactory position, brought about by the shortage of feed,, was likely to continue for at least another month.

Full supplies of fat sheep were still available, concluded Mr. Bridges.