SHORTAGE OF BEEF.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 10359, 23 April 1930, Page 1

SHORTAGE OF BEEF.

MAY NOT LAST LONG. London, March 17. Sir William Haldane recently declared that it is mainly due to America’s large imports of meat-from New Zealand and Canada that Britain has imported less beef and at higherprices during 1929, and to-day Sir Edmund Vestey, controverts that view in the Times. Sir Edmund’s view is that the increased cost of Britain’s oversea beef in 1929 was a reflex from wartime over production. He proceeds to expand this argument, and declares that the capacity of the United States to produce beef is unlimited. Sir Edmund goes on to criticise Sir Wm. Halane’s statement; ‘The United States, to satisfy the hunger of their people have devoured the surplus cattle and beef Canada fed use before.” Sir Edmund dissents, and asserts that “the fact is that what Canada 'fed us before’ was like a drop in the ocean, not more in recent- years than an infinitesimal portion of Britain’s supplies, and in the future can be nothing worth mentioning. Canada cannot compete with British home-killed in cost.” “Sir William Haldane further says: America has seized the great bulk of bur supplies from New Zealand.’ The actual position is that America took about half New Zealand’s ship--2\ per cent, of Britain’s consumption. - ‘‘Again my criticism ton Sir William Haldane’s statement, ‘America has begun competing with us for whatever supplies of beef Australia can offer,’ is simply that it is incorrect. Australian beef, either chilled or frozen, is absolutely prohibited to enter the United States. Sir William says; ‘America is now seriously attacking the monopoly we have hitherto held as the one big buyer in South America, the mainstay of supply we have long leant upon.’ I must say again, for the same reason, that this is quite contrary to the actual facts. Frozen or chilled beef from South America is absolutely prohibited to enter the United States. I could continue further showing the inaccuracy of Sir William Haldane’s remarks about the prospective shortage of beef. I feel, however, it Is sufficient to say that the prevailing prices of beef are exceedingly remunerative to cattle growers in all the countries of the world that Britain drews her supplies from, and most business men know that this condition will undoubtedly bring forward gfeatly increased supplies as-quickly as the cattle can bo produced.”