THE PRICE OF CALVES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 45, 16 November 1917, Page 8

THE PRICE OF CALVES

MEAT TRUST OPERATIONS ALLEGED. A Press Association telegram from Xapier, published yesterday, reports that "leading stations in the Hawke's Bay district have contracted with buyers who flro believed to represent the Heat Trust to sell the whole of their bull calves for the next fou,r years, and leading stockraisers in all parts of the province have contracted to sell their heifer calves at similar rates, which are said to be somej times as high as .£BO at two months" The message states that the prico of £1 a bead at a week is stated to have been offered, and that "these apparently absurd prices are being embodied in eontracts weekly." A Dominion reporter who mado some inquiries on the subject locally yesterday was not able to sccure any confirmation of these surprising statements. Jlen interested in stock here stated lliat they had not heard of any movement of the kind described, and could not 6eo how the Meat Trust or anybody else could profit by paying J.'B a Tiead for young calves. They pointed out that there was no chance of substantial increase in the pTice paid for beef during the period of the war, since the output had been taken by the Imperial Government at fixed rates. Beef was not released in London, tho whole supply being required for the troops, and so there was no big profit to be mado at that end. . Calves have been sold in the Wairarapa at over JCi .per head, but they were for delivery as yearlings, the seller rearing them in the meantime. That is a very different matter from paying £7 or £8 a head for young calves, and it is possible that tho Napier message has relation to some arrangement of tho kind.

Shearing commenced last week on Puketoi station. Central Otago (writes a correspondent). The weather has been ideal. The effect of the failure of the turnip crop last season is noticeable in the sheep, although with tho abnormal amount of grass which has been induced by tho heavy rains of spring,they have largely recovered and are looking well. Seldom, if ever, has the great Maniofcoto Plain looked so well, and prospects for the coming season are very good. No difficulty has been experienced in securing the necessary shearing hands for tho Puketoi station, but that may he duo to the fact that it is tho earliest shed in the province, and there is no doubt that later sheds will feel the pinch. The shearing of the stud flock on Gladbrook station was to commence on Monday, while the shearing of the hill 6tock by that station begins on Decem'bor .I—a week earlier than usual. After that date shearing will become general, and the prophecy as to the shortage of shearers and shed hands will bo put to the test of experience.