Beef rates not advanced

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33776, 24 February 1975, Page 1

Beef rates not advanced

There was no chance of the Meat Board’s minimum prices for beef, which will come into force in October, being brought forward, said the board’s chairman (Mr C. Hilgendorf) yesterday.

This was in spite of the board’s recommending to the Government that prices to farmers for export beef should be raised for the rest of this season. j

The board made known last year its guarantees for four grades of beef for next season. These are from 70 per cent to 100 per cent higher than present prices under the export schedule, which is also guaranteed by the board.

While Mr Hilgendorf was not prepared to discuss the method by which the board recommended prices should be raised, he said that it sought Government assistance to do that.

The effect that the prospect

of higher prices in October i is having on beef-cattle I slaughterings was illustrated jat the end of last week by the livestock manager of the i New Zealand Refrigerating ! Company, Ltd (Mr G. H. Steel). Forward bookings The company has tentative bookings for the killing of cattle at the beginning of the next export season at all of its works which are far greater than the numbers of

cattle killed at those works to date this season. At no time this season had his company’s four works, in contrast to national kill i figures, been ahead of last 'season’s kill, said Mr Steel. At February 9, when the kill at Picton stood at 1044 head, it was 2128 or 67 per cent down on the same date last season; at Islington, 3920, down by 2738, or 41 per cent; at Bumside, 3031, down by 2283, or 43 per cent; and at’ Imlay in the North Island, !4106, down by 6066, or 59| per cent. 1