THE BEEF QUOTA

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1934, Page 9

THE BEEF QUOTA

VALUES NOT RAISED

LAST YEAR IN ENGLAND

London's consumption of meat in twelve months can be gauged by the quantities brought to Smithfield last

year (says tho "Daily Telegraph"). There were 925,000 live bullocks and calves, 7,260,000 sheep and lambs, and 940,000 pigs, a total of 9,125,000 animals.

.Smithfiold eaters for about 8,000,000 people.

Where the flocks and herds come from ,to stock London's larders is shown by the annual report of Mr. H. AY. G. Millman, superintendent of Smithfield, which was presented to the City Corporation. The percentages set out are as follows:— Mutton Pork & Beef. ■& lamb. Bacon. Britain & Ireland 1G.2 23.3 70.D Dominions 9.3 62.5 16.0 Foreign 74.3' 14.2 14.0 "So far," the superintendent reports, "the application of control by means of the quota to beef imports has not increased values, but it certainly prevented the bottom of the market from falling out entirely. Well-fin-ished English beef has been short owing to drought and lack of feed." Average wholesale prices of Scottish and. English beef and veal during 1933 were about Id per pound lower than in 1932 and chilled beef -}d to id lower. Scotch and English mutton prices were ljd per pound higher and frozen mutton Jd per pound higher. English and frozen pork made better prices, choice small fresh-killed pig 1^ realising 1M per pound more than at the latter end of 1932. On the question of equality of home and imported sbecf, Mr. Millman states:— "When the general run of English beef becomes plentiful, and superior, or even equal in quality to, imported chilled beef, Londoners may be induced to pay a slightly higher price for the home-produced article;; but it must be remembered that for more than a quarter of a century chilled beef has held an almost impregnable position in the beef trade of London, a position gained by an intensive study ! of the trade's requirements, and ty supplying with regularity beef of high standard quality at a price which defies competition.

"Meantime chilled beef is selling wholesale, at about 2d per pound below the price of good English meat, and 3d per pound below Scotch.

"The demand for meat is fairly constant, and although consumption per head is less, in keeping with the prevailing fashion, the population 'is greater and increasing." ,