Farmers Concerned At Lamb Price

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31188, 12 October 1966, Page 9

Farmers Concerned At Lamb Price

Farmers had been prepared for a substantial drop in the price for lamb but not to the extent of that contained in the offer being made to farmers by the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, the chairman of the meat and wool section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers (Mr W. N. Dunlop) said.

Pending the announcement of an opening schedule for lamb presented in a; new form, Mr H. Cordery, assistant general manager of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, on Friday issued a list of prices on which his company would be working in the meantime. These prices represented a drop of 4Jd per lb on those ruling at the opening of the previous season.

Mr Dunlop said he had been asked to comment on the price being offered by the New Zealand Refrigerating Company. “In the first place I would state that it is only an offer by one company not a schedule,” said Mr Dunlop.

“Farmers were prepared for a substantial drop in the price of lamb, but not to this extent. In view of the way lighter lamb has held vp one would have expected a greater price differential. "On October 7 the Market Information Service of the Meat Board quoted prime 281 b and under at 27d.

“The only comfort one can find is that this offer is almost at deficiency payment level, so the price to farmers cannot fall much lower. “The whole situation is causing concern among producers and if the schedule, when announced, follows the same pattern farmers will have to make some serious decisions.”