THE SLUMP IN MEAT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10847, 12 March 1921, Page 7

THE SLUMP IN MEAT

AND WHAT IT MEANS PUBLIC’S DELIGHT AND FARMERS’ DREAD. A SERIOUS OUTLOOK. Some information was gleaned yesterday by a “Times” representative fio/n several large, wholesale and retail butchers regarding the recent reduction in prices of meat. Many realised the public were anxious to see a drop, but a big fall in the price of meat, they said, might not be as beneficial to tho country as the people believe. “It is natural that the working man' should be overjoyed at the reduction, but on the other hand it means a serious tliilig—in some cases ruination—to the country,” said one local manager, “and if prices continue to fall the outlook-will become extremely serious.” When questioned regarding the stock prices as affecting the retail trade another manager explained that different butchers had different methods of buying. Some bought, “carcase” whilst others purchased on the “hoof,” which", of course, was the basis of the fixing of their retail prices. Another opinion on the subject was submitted by a large wholesale and retail butcher.

“My honest opinion,” he said, “is that the freezing companies are not operating, because they cannot get sales in London. This, in itself, I think, would be consistent with a drop in "price ” “Ever since January as much as £l7 has been paid for ‘forward stores,’ ” continued the speaker, “and as much a® 20s to 22e for ‘store wethers’ off the shears. Much more than prices covering the same period of last year. Then again, the expenses concerning the employer have undergone no reduction, •and if you come to consider just one item, that of shoeing a horse, the price of 14s, as fixed by the Board of Trade, has some bearing upon Qie burden of the. employer, and if prices still continue to show a lowering tendency the result will, in some cases, spell collapse for the butchers. , “An important consideration is tho fact that hides, skins, and tallows are yielding to-day much lower rates as compared with this time last year.” he said. “For instance, pne can safely say that the prices of hides are only a half of last year’s prices, and skins and tallow* only a third, so if you figure that out for yourself you may come to the conclusion that the cry of, ‘We want reduced prices’ is not such a great slogan after all, and that reduced prices of meat, hides, tallow, etc., mean a big knock to some of our primary products. “Every market must reach its level, we all realise that, hut when a slump comes in the meat industry and prices for cattle and sheep commence to tumble, it means a serious thing for many individuals; and firms,, and generally, an unsatisfactory state of things throughout the whole Dominion.”