CO-OPERATIVE MEAT MARKETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23045, 23 November 1936, Page 10

CO-OPERATIVE MEAT MARKETING

ro I'HE EDITOR. Sir, —While guaranteed or stabilised prices lor the benefit of dairy farmers operate in effect on exportable produce, it is perhaps pursuing a logical train of thought if we visualise an what manner such measures may be made progressively applicable to our local markets. I shall be content to deal with one phase of marketing where stabilisation, control, or reform is long overdue. Most authorities are agreed that in the confusion and burdens of the devious means whereby produce reaches the consumer it is the unnecessary middleman renderipg no real service to the community who prevents a proper alignment of the costs of production and the purchasing power of the consumer. To the local meat markets at Burnside all fat stock is forwarded from a radius of approximately 100 miles, A genuine farmer •—and most farmers desire to be genuine—raises his stock on his land, and when he desires to sell either delivers the stock at the sale yards himself or arranges with his obliging friend the stock agent to receive his stock. His estimation of the prices he will receive are purely speculative. He bases his chances on various factors —the surplus or deficiency of the offerings of the previous week, the general trend of market prices over a given period, the possibilities of a bare market due to certain climatic conditions, the general shortage of what he offers in respect of which he relies too often on the interested advice of his agent friends. There are the vagaries, too, of factors that influence prices of stock of similar qualities in any one market. The farmer’s market is purely speculative, in any case—interesting as a gamble possibly, but rotten business to those who toil steadily and carefully throughout the year to produce the best of stock in the finest condition, and are compelled finally to hazard their efforts in a gamble that is preventable. The advantages % ot a co-operative system would be a fixed and just price to the farmer, a fixed price for the butcher, an absolute certainty, by personal inspection of the butcher, of the correct weight and quality of his purchases being ensured, and the freight and accommodation are such items of expense that, once his stock are forwarded to Burnside, the farmer is absolutely into the hands of the agent and his dealer friends, for it is absolutely hopeless for him to face the extra burden of a return of his live stock.

What then of the butcher? Equally is his weekly purchase a gamble. The same factors may influence his requirements, and though, broadly speaking, he may, over a lengthy period, pass on his increased costs in higher prices to the consumer, yet it is impracticable for him to vary his charges in sympathy with his weekly market rates.

Again, there is another factor. As with the farmer, the true place of the butcher is in his business, and the judgment of live-stock and knowledge of the peculiarities of the sale yards should not be a matter of success or ruin to him as it is to-day with many butchers. The success of his business should depend entirely on his ability to dress and sell his produce, not to contend on fluctuating markets with those who have inherited, or developed the required knowledge of live-stock. What, then, can be done to prevent this ridiculous confusion on the part of the farmer, the butcher, and the consumer?

The failure of any co-operative effort by producers, tradesmen and consumers creates the necessity for the State to intervene, and assume control—pooling of stock, and when it is slaughtered grading the meat by experts, thence retailed to the butcher under whatever grade or quality he requires at more or less fixed prices for grades, and payment to the producer at the same time at a set price, dead weight, according to grade. Co-operative control of marketing on these lines by the producers and the butchers acting in concert was all along the obvious resource; but the insidious propaganda of the stock firm, the misguided individualism or rather the speculative and selfish abilities of leading, older, or more established butchers, and the appalling incohesion, the suspicion and short-sightedness of the farmer, as exemplified in his own organisation, the Farmers' Union, have prevented such reforms years ago. A comprehensive survey of returns of fat stock over a number of years will provide a working basis. The total elimination of the middleman, would permit his " rake-off " to be returned to the farmer, and the butcher, or passed on as cheaper meat to the consumer.

I have no doubt that the conservative element and the speculative faction will hold up their hands in horror at the very suggestion of such a change, which no doubt would be regarded as another heinous Socialistic innovation; but the term " Socialism " no longer appals; Socialism is merely a universal form of co-operation and the march of progress goes inexorably forward and the doctrines of to-day become the fallacies of to-morrow.—l am, etc., J. B. Birtles.

Dunedin, November 21.