STOCK PRICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23487, 26 October 1939, Page 7

STOCK PRICES

, WINTER FATTENING ALLOWANCE TO BE MADE ASSURANCE BY MINISTER [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday An agreement that if a farmer was involved in additional costs by reason of fattening stock during the winter he was entitled to some compensation, the same as other producers _ and traders, war, expressed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sulhvan. gF The Minister's statement- followed the publication of a lecentranribunce-' ment by him that the prices of meat for consumption in New „ Zealand would be based on the price arranged between the New Zealand and United Kingdom Governments. It was subsequently pointed out that unless the Government allowed winter . fat. stock prices to be settled by open' competition there would be a shortage of - fresh killed meat. In a further statement to-day Mr. Sullivan said that it was apparent that there had beeii a wrong conclusion, and that the opinion had been gained that whereas extra costs wouldbe taken into account in the price charged by traders, any extra costs, incurred by the farmer would'not be allowed. This was quite erroneous. Tlie _ Minister explained that in his original statement he said that the export price would be a basis upon which local prices would be"' fixed. There was 110 suggestion that variations from this basic price* efth>r upward or downward, would not be allowed. Fatteners of stock could be assured that they would be allowed a price that would compensate them "for any extra costs in which they'were involved, and the public could likewise be assured that the price would be such as would ensure an . adequate supply of meat' for the local market.