MEAT PRICES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 January 1940, Page 9

MEAT PRICES

A CRITICAL REVIEW COMPARISON WITH BRITAIN WIDE VARIATIONS SHOWN Whatever criticism may be levelled at the farmer if production does not increase this year he is scarcely likely to be charged with receiving exploitation prices for his pro-

duce, states the Agricultural Editor of the “Christchurch Press.” As far as wool is concerned it has shown that in America wool of an equivalent type to our fine halfbred was realising in September 50 cents per lb., or 25d at par. And America is wanting a lot of wool, even at that price. The average price paid for many representative clips of all counts, according to the report quoted from, was about 44d per lb. The average to be paid for the acquired New Zealand clip is 12£d per lb. American comment on the New Zealand acquisition price was that “the New Zealand woolgrower could not be accused of taking excessive war profits.” The Dominion’s output of butter and cheese is to be taken over at the equivalent of the guaranteed price, which has been shown by the investigational committee appointed by the Government to be an unpayable price. As in the case o', the woolgrower, the dairyman cannot be accused of “taking excessive war profits.” COMPARISON WITH BRITAIN In the other major product of the Dominion—meat—the position is practically the same—perhaps “more so.” The Farmers’ Weekly, an authoritative British agricultural publication, gives in its issue of 6th October the maximum prices to be paid for live stock. Quality grade beef that will kill out at 57 per cent, or over was 48s per live cwt., and from 54 to 56 per cent. 445. The ordinary grades, similar weights, were 44s and 40s. Under the “quality” clas.-J'fica-tion this would mean on a 7£ cwt steer (8401 b) 60 per cent, meat, a price of approximately £33 to £34 a head, or £4 a hundred dressed weight. On top of this, the subsidy payment for prime cattle, which has been averaging £2 10s head. This would bring the value of an 8401 b beast to approximately £36, or a full lOd per lb. The acquisition price of New Zealand hinds is 4|jd per lb. sterling, or 5.44 d New Zealand, and fores 2.9-16th penny steriling, or 3.19 d New Zealand, an average of 4*d per lb New Zealand. It has to be conceded that frozen beef is not so delectable as the Home-grown article, but allowing for freight and incidental costs, the difference between 4£d and lOd shows that the beef producer of this country is certainly “not taking excessive war profits.” The maximum price of fat sheep, dressed weight, is lOd per lb. in England, and of lamb ll£d. In New Zealand a prime fat lamb is worth 255; in England 50s. In New Zealand a day’s labour on the farm costs 15s; in England 6s 6d. In England, one lamb pays for one week’s labour; in New Zealand a lamb pays for 1£ days’ labour. In England one lamb will buy a ton of basic slag; in New Zealand it takes four lambs to buy a ton.