BACON AND HAM DEARER THROUGH LOSS OF SUBSIDY

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1949, Page 7

BACON AND HAM DEARER THROUGH LOSS OF SUBSIDY

CHRISTCHURCH, October 12. Wholesale bacon and ham prices have risen considerably in the South Island through the removal of subsidies by the Economic Stabilisation Commission from the end of last month. No announcement has been made on retail prices, but it is expected that the increase will be a corresponding one.

In th e South Island bacon prices have risen by 16s 4d a pig and in the North Island by 13s 4d. The extra increase in the South Island will cover a special claim of 3s for increased freights. No announcement about increased retail prices has yet been received by the Price Tribunal in Christchurch, but it is expected that the price of bacon will rise by between 2-ld and 3d per lb to 2s 3d and ham by a similar amount to 3s 6d per lb. The increase in the wholesale price operates from last Monday. It is made up as follows:—Is 7d as a compensation allowance for freezing companies; Is 6d for higher wages; 6s 2d, based on the increase of id per lb in the export schedule; and 4s Id, representing the removal of the bacon subsidy. The increased freezing charges are 13d per lb. It is reported that the executive of the New Zealand Association of Bacon Curcrs was not wholly satisfied with the decision of the Commission. The Commission may be approached for a special subsidy for the period June 1 to September 30 and an adjustment on the price of boneless rolled bacon for the North Island only. An application has also been made for an increase in the wholesale price of lard, bulk and pats, to bring the local price into line with the new export price of £9O a ton.

Last year, according to the Abstract of Statistics, £BO,OOO was paid in subsidies to stabilise the selling price of ham and bacon. The total value in output from the industry was £2,988,405.