Whangarei Butchers Voice Discontent

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1943, Page 3

Whangarei Butchers Voice Discontent

! Four Whangavoi butchers _ visited today ! were unanimous in their opinion that the i present shortage of good quality beef was 'entirely clue to the dry season last year, i coupled with .war conditions. Two of ‘them predicted an even more acute short - jage in the near future. . , | All voiced discontent at prices whicn !were being received by farmers for beef. •IThough the price was fixed by the Price M Tribunal at 34/- per 100 lbs., it was being ’jexceeded by in/- in some instances, they •'claimed. Many butchers were going far'd the r afield than the local markets to chs•jcover good quality beef. *1 "it is now a case of us chasing the ■’[seller instead of the seller chasing us,” said one butcher. "If we were to oft-r '!the prices which the Government has • [fixed for wholesaling beef, we would • never get any meal. The farmer would Mnoi sell it. e Asked when the shortage of beet had 1 !become apparent, one butcher stated that .•[the position had gradually deteriorated ‘luniil the present great scarcity of prime ibeef. He forecasted that remedial steps . j would have to be taken, and it was possible even that rationing might be introeduced. He likened the position to that of -i the pork supply, and said that beef might i soon be non-existent for the general public, only sufficient, being produced to meet, y |he needs of the armed forces. M Mutton Also Scarce j ‘‘Mutton supplv is just as bad,” said '. another butcher. "The scarcity in this , : meat is caused solely by farmers holding 5 , back their fat sheep until alter the shearMing season.” ii block agents also attributed the snort|age of beef to the unusual season last Myear. and the present war conditions. !! Shortage of suitable manures and Leri il- " \ isers also liad much to do with the posil non. One stock agent had received orders ter supplies of beef from butchers ’!as l'ar north as Kaitaia, showing that the shortage was as serious in that district. P Good prices were being realised in the !■ I yards. -; ‘