SHORTAGE OF MEAT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 5 August 1919, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF MEAT

SYDNEY EATING RABBITS

In spite of the bitter protests and growing resentment of the whole community, the meat interests manage to keep the prices of meat for local consumption at -thie export parity (writes the Wellington Post's Sydney correspondent). In. any case, the. supplies which reach the local market are scarcely sufficient for requirements, and this tends to put the price up. The rates have grown steadily, and the quality of the meat has depreciated, until it is no exaggeration to say that in Sydney to-day high quality meat is a luxury only for, wealthy Australians and for consumers abroad. The low-class stuff goes to the average consumer at home.

At one time Sydney turned hopefully to fish. The Government had •whooped loudly and often about the State trawling service—an alleged

magnificent system of bringing from the sea great quantities of good food for the people. But, alas! for human hopes. The trawling service, being a State affair, has never prospered. It has done nothing, apparently, to lower the price of fish or make larger supplies available. The fishermen profiteer and prosper to-day like everyone else. Fresh snapper was actually selling in Sydney shops recently at 2s €d per pound. This is somewhat exceptional—but the fact remains that good fresh fish is not a bit cheaper than meat. Yet magnificent fishing

grounds lie all round Sydney. No boat which goes out fails to "catch." Two •men .in a launch landed near Manly •the other day and carried ashore two large baskets of good fish. "There's JE3O worth there," said one of them. Not a bad day's work. So the harassed Sydney housekeeper lias turned to rabbits-—and this is the -salvation of the consumer. Good plump rabbits are being sold for eightpence «r ninepence each. There is an abundance of the animals in the country, .and the trade is developing by leaps and bounds. Thousands of men are out trapping, . making big cheques. "They sell to a sort of middleman,- who takes the skin and sends the carcase

on to the retailers. The latter are swarming out over. Sydney every morning with their big carts full of bunny, and they meet a quick and « «asy sale. Everyone seems satisfied —■ the rabbit traders, because, the trade -pays them well, and the consumers,

•who are getting an attractive and ■wholesome meat food at a fair price— not to speak of the farmers, who see inroads being made in the ranks of their most uncompromising and persistent enemy.