MEAT PRICES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 190, 14 May 1928, Page 3

MEAT PRICES

POVERTY BAY FARMERS DISSATISFIED

Br Telegraph.—Press Association Gisborne, May 13.

Many farmers in Poverty Bay are dissatisfied with the low prices paid by buyers for stock, and the matter was ventilated at a meeting of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday. The chairman, Mr. F. S. Bowen, said that Poverty Bay stock prices were well behind those in other parts of the Dominion. Sheep sent from here made vastly superior prices in other places, so it was not the quality of stock that caused the lower price. He shipped away one line he could not get 20s. for locally -and received 275. In another case he was offered 18s. 10d., but sent a line to Whakatu and got 245. Sd., and after paying all charges was 2s. a. head better off. Similar instances were quoted by other farmers. Mr. J. C. Field said the Meat Board was no use to Poverty Bay farmers. It simply looked on and took the easier road.

Mr. W. D. Lysnar said he was glad to find the people waking up to the true state of affairs. He had slackened off his complaints somewhat in anticipation of farmers realising the true position. “There is no doubt there is wrong, and the centre of the wrong is the Meat Board. The board was simply coquetting with the big man and not worrying about the interests of the small farmers. The board should be elected of farmers themselves. Mr. Coates had said he could not do that until farmers all over the Dominion asked for it.

The chairman in reply to a question said the Meat Board had no right to fix freezing rates, but Mr. Lysnar said if they had a board acting in the interests of farmers it could do a lot by the force of public opinion. Mr. Lysnar suggested that they should go straight to Mr. Coates with the matter. Finally a resolution was passed asking meat buyers to meet the executive of the Farmers’ Union in a conference to discuss meat prices. #