THE MEAT POSITION

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 274, 21 November 1919, Page 2

THE MEAT POSITION

SHORTAGE IN OLD COUNTRY

SHIPPING AND FREE MARKETS

An interesting sidelight on the meat position in the Old Country as contained in a letter just received by a resident of Taranaki from a brother living in England. "You needn't worry your mind about meat," the "letter states. "There is a great scarcity here, and there will continue to be, our herds are so depleted. It will take years to get them up again. Then there is all the Continental demand. There will be a bigger call for frozen meat than ever there 'was before Avhen shipping gets more normal and the Government take off. all restrictions. That cutting you sent Avas all wrong about the glut of meat in England, and people not Avanting even the. small increase in the ration. Butchers are being fined every day for selling more meat than they should do. It is all a question of shipping and free markets. "Accompanying the letter was the following extract from the Daily Noavs of September 10:—We are -c".:™ lc cliffy ±iz w:::^cr a eo:^

shortage, which will be as bad as anything experienced during the war. In view of the probable lack of employment, its effect on the masses r:iay be even more serious. It may easily involve a return to legally-en-forced meatless days.' This is the considered opinion of one of the most experienced meat traders in the country, who Avas interviewed yesterday by a representative of the Daily News. Replying to a suggestion that this estimate appeared to be unnecessarily pessimistic, he said : 'It is^ not my opinion only; it is that of almost every man in the trade whose dealings enable him to take a wide view. The figures of my own firm indicate a world shortage. Taking England alone, we have not much over 50 per cent of our normal supplies of cattle. I doubt whether there is 40 per cent of our usual number of sheep. Pigs are clown to the lowest percentage I have known for 25 years. It is true there are countries which are fairly yell off because local customs and the incidence of distribution tell in their favor. But the world supply is. worse than ours.' 'What about the -supplies of frozen meat?' 'Our reports are that they will be lower than ever before. That is why the masses of the people are likely to be so badly 1 it. Enemy countries are now clsmoring for their share of these supplies, and the state of affairs ill the shipping Avorld is such that Avherens Aye used to be the dumping-ground for frozen meat Aye are now likely to find it diverted to other countries.' Do you think the Government will bo able to meet the shortage?' 'They f-ould ovJ.'j do ii" heavily.

But prices are ture to be inflated, and it is not likely that after what has happened they will risk badly-burnt 1-ngers. H, howeA^er, they are wise the Government will maintain the cmtrol of concentration and distribution. This will obviate the scandals of the case when some big centres are practically destitute of supplies and less populous areas are almost flooded. Local food authorities should take this matter up at once- Those who fail are likely to be badly left.' " The Daily News clipping also contained the following extract from the National Food Journel:—"Last winter, taking prices as a whole', the highest point was reached in November, after which a fall was experienced; the same cannot be predicted as to next winter. On the contrary, if general past experience may be t.nken as a guide the new year may witness some rise, at any rate, in certain prices."