DECLINE IN BEEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19676, 30 June 1927, Page 16

DECLINE IN BEEF.

THE POOR EXPORT VALUES. MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. Twenty five years a producer " writes:—A lot is being said and written about the languishing fat and store cattle business in the Dominion and more especially in the Auckland province. I will give my views as they affect the Auckland district, and this aspect is being talked about and discussed bv farmers' everywhere, but it seldom gets iino print. The ij&rat business is slowly but surely getting into the hands of two or three big concerns, in spite of our Meat Producers' Board and Government regulations, which means a diminishing competition for fat stock, and these same | concerns are too wise to compete strongly against each other. With poor export values for beef, the man who fattens is practically dependent on the local market which now ,is no small thing.

The prices offered for fat cattle, and sheep also, throughout the greater part of the Auckland province are based upon what is being paid week by week at our main stock sale at West field. It lollows then that it competition can he lessened at West-field, and prices lowered, then meat on the hoof can be bought more cheaply out on the farms and at small country sales. The Producer's Side.

This is what actually is taking place, but now comes the producer's side of the business. He grows his crops, top-dresses his pastures, and lays himself out ready to turn off all the fat stock he can throughout, the year, he attends the store stock sales to buy his requirements and enters into keen genuine competition with farmers from different directions. All are keen 011 getting the stock they must have to feed the waiting crops and pastures. Store stock bought out 011 the farms and runs are naturally based on these sale prices, the same as beef is based on Westfield sale prices. This genuine competition brings the store stock to about its true value, and it only gives the breeder and grazier a reasonable return based on his present running costs. Now we see one end of the live stock business free and uncontrolled with genuine competition, and the other end with genuine competition lessened and still diminishing. The few smaller butchers and meat men hardly count as thc-smaller quantities they handle cannot set the riling price, and even their buying is be ng pooled and combined more and more, thus lessening competition again. Position of the Consumer. Although export values are so low, tho British consumer does not appear to be getting much benefit out of the low values either. Until keen general fair competition is restored at the live fat stock end of the business, or the grower gets Ins product more direct to the consumer, or sells his meat dressed at wholesale rales to the retailers. I cannot see how any subsidy scheme is going to improve the fat cattle business in the Auckland province, because the subsidy will only moan a little more out of his own pocket eventually. Under present conditions, with so much extra top-dressing going on, it means a greater production than ever next season, and consequently nior beef for the big concerns to play with and a still further strengthening of their already strong position.

Efforts should be made to increase the number and quality of sheep in Mew Zealand.