BEEF INDUSTRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 May 1922, Page 7

BEEF INDUSTRY.

HARD TIMES AHEAD

BY CABLE—PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

Received May 15, 12.20 p.m. SYDNEY, May 15. The Morning Herald, dealing with the Federal Government's beef subsidy scheme says that everybody in the industry is gratified, and 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 prosperity in one act. Experts, working out the costs on the new basis, estimate the price to be paid for prime cattle on ihe stations of Queensland at £3 10s per head. Even this low price is better than nothing, and will enable the cattlemen to dispose of their surplus stock. Allowing for station expenditure, killing, and other charges, the Herald says that, even with the scheme in working, it appears likely that the industry will be several million pounds on the wrong side of the balance for the incoming season, without considering the possible losses from drought and disease. Queensland cattlemen 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 New South Wales cattlemen is regarded as little, if anything, better than Queensland. The Herald adds that in all the States cattlemen received sxich a setback dur-i ing the past two years that the view is strongly held that in future no country suitable for sheep will run larger stock. It is considered that the time is not far distant when Queensland will be running thirty million sheep—nearly twice the present, number —by displacing an equivalent in cattle.