BEEF SUPPLIES

Grey River Argus, 15 March 1940, Page 9

BEEF SUPPLIES

To be Regulated WELLINGTON, March 13. The policy it is intended to adopt for winter supplies of beef was announced this evening by the Minister for Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). It had been decided, he said, that the whole situation would best be dealt with by the regulation of detail prices, and it was intended to draw up a schedule of retail prices for the period from July 1 to November 1.

“From time to time the executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and the Sheepowners’ Federation have asked the Government to indicate what policy will be followed in regard to winter supplies of beef,” said Mr Sullivan. “The Government is anxious to avoid the introduction of a complicated method of supervision of auction prices, or the institution of any system which may have the effect of debarring the farmer from being adequately compensated for the extra costs of cattle fattened during the winter for spring (sale. It has been decided that the whole situation would best be .deal with by the regulation of- rotar prices, as such regulation would serve not only to protect the public against any excessive rise in prices; but also to protect the producers for '■a reasonable extra premium winter-fattened stock. It is proposed, therefore to draw up a schedule of retail' prices that will cover the period July 1 to November 1, and the proposed arrangements will be gone into fully with committees representative of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and the New Zealand Master Butchers’ Association.

“In order to ensure an adequate supply of beef, the Government will hold certain quantities of export quality meat in store, ready for Ihe local market if required. This plan will be on the lines of a similar arrangement which operated during ■the last war, and will prevent any acute shortage of supplies. In addit on, to assist in meeting any possible shortage of fresh beef as i' likely to occur at times in the South Island, there will be available a supply of North Island beef to be transferred when necessary to augment supplies in the south. “It is hoped,’’ said Mr Sullivan, “that this system of regulation through retail prices only will meet farmers’ extra costs, and at the same time avoid any interference with the normal method of sal? through * auction.’’