“NO INCENTIVE TO FARMER IN MEAT PRICE CONTROL”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22826, 22 December 1948, Page 3

“NO INCENTIVE TO FARMER IN MEAT PRICE CONTROL”

(P.A.) HAMILTON, Dec. 22. The new wholesale price order for meat would mean that there would be no incentive for a farmer concentrating on fattening stock for the local market, especially during the winter, even with the period of uncontrolled prices as had been suggested by the tribunal, said Mr W N. Perry, Bruntwood, Dominion president of the Federated Farmers, when commenting on the decision ot the Price Tribunal to introduce a wholesale price order for meat. The raising of fat stock for the local market during the period of control, said Mr. Perry, was a highly specialised business and needed considerable planning on the part of a farmer. The only way he could recoup himself was to get a’ reasonable price for his meat. A commission had been set up by the Government during the year and it had issued a majority report that there should be no fixation of wholesale prices. The fixing of the price order would mean that little fresh meat would be available to the public in the spring. Farmers would view the matter very seriously as it was just another example of regimentation of the farming community with the possibility of prices being fixed over the whole year. After this season it would be unlikely that farmers with this threat over their heads would be interested in planning production during the winter period.