Farmers Oppose Control Of Retail Meat Prices

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29220, 2 June 1960, Page 17

Farmers Oppose Control Of Retail Meat Prices

(Neu> Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON NTH., June 1.

Price-fixing wiU have an adverse effect on the New Zealand beef industry, according to Mr B. Stewart, of Levin, who, at the Federated Farmers’ conference in Palmerston North today, moved a remit asking that price-fixing be investigated, as it was of doubtful benefit to the housewife.

He said it was profitable for butchers to buy heavy-weight beasts under the present schedule. The export trade demanded a prime, light beast. Farmers could not breed one type of beast for export and another for local consumption. As farmers would naturally breed the type of beast most in demand the quality would suffer.

He said butchers were allowed to charge higher ceiling prices than formerly for some cuts of meat, and since the best cuts of meat had been cheapened, they were harder to obtain. As a result butchers often found themselves loaded with poor cuts. “I suggest we ask that prlce'fixing be abandoned, not investigated.” said Mr B. Short, of Feilding. “We are against fixed prices of any kind." Mr H. M. Linklater said control might have been imposed to persuade people to eat more mutton, but he doubted if it was having that effect. The controls would depress the prices of fat stock carried through the winter.

“It is certain the policy of lowering consumer prices will have a detrimental effect on farmers' prices.” be said. Mr R. Chapman said that if the control could be sustained, the farmer would be the loser. Certain farmers took pride in producing high quality meat during the whole year. These would suffer hardship. The remit was carried.