AUSTRALIAN BEEF

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1922, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN BEEF

SLUMP LX BRITAIN

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, Alarch 3.

While Australian lamb and mutton arc selling well, the market for Australian llfuzen beef is still deplorable, the beef being hardly saleable at 3od.

Mr. Jowett, interviewed, stated that the chief causes of the beef slum]) were the bad effect, on Hie public mind, of the old stock, and a relentless war that is being carried on by tho importers of .Argentine beef, which is being sold at below cost. Air. Jowett believes that; a quick remedy can be found, but it entails finding a large sum of money. The remedy, he says, consists in the acceptance of the Vestey firm’s offer to relieve the British market of The whole of the old beef, amount,ing_ to 150.000 quarters, and selling the same at the best obtainable prices on the Continent. For this, Aestey’s demand a bonus of £lOO,OOO. If this sum could be found, Air. .Jowett believes it would turn out a profitable investment for Australia in the long run. lie is of the opinion that the farmers and the people of Australia ought, to be made aware of the precise situation before the Government breaks off ucgotiations with A'es(.cy.

Air. Jowett says that the Australian producers do not realise the terrible prejudices of the people in Britain against the accumulated old b‘*ef. He points out, some facts, in reply to an interview' in the “Yorkshire Observer wherein 'the West Yorkshire butchers declared that: the old Austraii'in beef is quite unsaleable in the poorest industrial areaij. The butchers described it as a “poor third-rate article” compared with the Argentine meat. Air. Jowett says that. h c is personallysat islied that, when properly thawed and cooked, it. is not distinguishable from fresh beef. Air. Jowett ajso points out that, a similar prejudice existed against Austialian mutton and lamb last Year, but as soon as ihe old sleeks 'were cleared out in January, this prejudice quickly disappeared, ami prices rose rapidly, lie believed that similar results will follow the immediate disposal of the old beef. The enhanced prices for new shipments would mean quickly recouping the outlay entailed by accepting A'estoy’s offer.