AUSTRALIAN BEEF SLUMP

Grey River Argus, 16 May 1922, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN BEEF SLUMP

STATE HELP FOR STOCK RAISERS CAPITA LIST P.\ PER ’S APOLOGETICS. [A. and N. Z. Cable Association] (Rceivcd May 1.5, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 15. The Sydney “Morning Herald’’ deals with the Federal Government’s beef subsidy scheme. It says that everybody in Hie meat industry is gratified that the scheme has been accepted by all sections, but it is recognised that it is not going to transform the cattlemen's position from one of depression to one of prosperity in a single The expert working out the costs on the. new basis estimates that the price paid for prime cattle on the stations in Queensland will be at. £3 1.0/- per head. .Even this low price is better than nothing (says the “Herald”) and it ‘will enable the cattle men to dispose of their surplus stock. Allowing for station expenditure, killing, ami other charges, the “Herald” says that even with the scheme in working, it appears likely the meat industry will be several mililon pounds on Hie wrong side of the balance in the coming season. Without considering the possible losses from drought and disease, Queensland cattle men realise that there is a very hard time ahead, unless the English market improves, or the cost, of production is further reduced. The position of the New South Wales cattle men, it adds, is regarded as little, if any, better than that of those in Queensland. The “Herald” add: Tn all the States the cattle men liave received such a setback during the past wo years, that the view is strongly held that in future no country suitable for sheep will run large rstock. It is considered the time is not far distance when Queensland will be running 30,0< ! 0,000 sheep, or nearly twice its present number, by displacing an equivalent quantity of