FOOD PRICES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18348, 3 April 1925, Page 9

FOOD PRICES.

BRITISH ENQUIRY.

AUSTRALIA'S MEAT TRADE

(BT CARLE—THESS ASSOCIATION'—COrYMGST.) (ACSTIULUX AMI N'.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received April '2ml, •".•" p.m. 1 )

LONDON", April 1

Mr ,T. B. Cramsie (formerly chairman of the Australian Meat Council), giving evidence before the Food Commission, said that, for three years the meat industry in Australia was unprofitable. To-day's prices, while they might justify the industry carrying on, and enable the quality to be improved, would not justify stocking the unoccupied areas in North Australia. If beef prices were to continue unprofitable, Australia's production would diminish, and with increasing population the time might not be far distant when Australia would be unknown as an exporter of beef. On the contrary, if Australia could pioneer and stock the unoccupied areas and secure the necessary railway and port facilities there was no reason why these should not carry a further seven to ten million head of cattle.

Mr Cramsie refuted the statement made by a previous witness that everything in connexion with Australian beef pronounced it a most inferior article. He contended that Australia produced first quality beef, which was proved by the fact that Australians, who were large beef-eaters, claimed to have a frame, constitution, and working energy comparing favourably with any people in the world. Referring to the disparity between wholesale and retail prices, he had come to the conclusion that the multiplicity of retail shops and the public's demand for the more popular cuts, and the neglect of the less popular, but equally nourishing, portions was largely responsible for the prices. Mr Cramsie, urging that encouragement should be given to extending the industry in the Commonwealth, pointeel out that Australia for over forty years had endeavoured to turn her whole supplies towards Great Britain, and did not attempt in any way to combine to raise the price against the British consuming public. Ho reiterated his view that South America had almost reached the limit of production. He believed that the pioneering of unoccupied North Australia would provide the increased supply of boef which was needed to meet the world's future requirements.

Replying to Mrs Snowdcn, he said that the Australian Meat Council was quite prepared to meet any representative organisation of consumers to discuss the stabilisation of prices. Sir Auckland Geddes complimented the witness. .