BEEF FOR EXPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 10

BEEF FOR EXPORT.

Challenging suggestions for the encouragement of beef-growing in New Zealand have been made by Mr. William Perry, a member of the Meat Board. The proposal, in brief, is to collect a levy of one farthing a pound on all cattle killed either for local consumption or export, and to pay a bonus of three farthings on all beef exported in quarters, boneless beef escaping the levy and not participating in the subsidy. According to Mr. Perry the grower would pay the levy. The Patterson plan for subsidising butter exported from Australia was quoted as an example of what might be done. Most of Mr. Perry's premises can be granted readily. The export trade in beef is in a bad condition. It will be a calamity if the breeding of beef cattle declines further,, for there is much land, especially in the North Island, where grazing by heavy beef cattle is essential to keep the pasture from failing before the advance of secondary growth. As he truly says, the prosperity of sheep-farming largely depends on keeping up the 1 herds of beef cattle. So much for | the need of some action. As for the | plan, it has to be taken very cautiously. The Patterson scheme must, from its very nature, affect the price of butter for local consumption. Mr. Perry seems to suggest that the grower of beef for home consumption would pay the levy, and the consuming public escape. That may be so, but it will certainly colour the views of the farmers on the scheme. If, on the other hand, the consuming public in Isew Zealand is to pay ultimately, further opposition may be expected. Then there is the question of identifying the _ grower who should receive the subsidy. If he pays the levy and fails to collect the bonus, his desire to breed and fatten beef will be reduced rather than stimulated. The map who sells ou the hoof will certainly be asked to accept less because of the levy the carcase must ultimately pay ; then, if it is exported, he may never see the bonus. The plan has been suggested tentatively, and doubtless its difficulties will be fully consfdered. While doing so, it may perhaps occur to those interested that, as so much emphasis is laid on the importance of beef breeding in relation to sheep raising, a case might be made for asking that exported mutton and lamb should contribute to the fund for encouraging the languishing cattle industry.