MEAT RATIONING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25456, 10 February 1944, Page 4

MEAT RATIONING

PRODUCERS NOT CONSULTED PROTEST TO GOVERNMENT A representative meeting of Otago farmers, graziers, and stock agents was held yesterday to discuss the reply received from the chairman of the Economic Stabilisation Commission to the representations which were made on behalf of all interests by the South Island Fat Stock Committee. The gist of the reply received from the chairman of the Stabilisation Commission was that no increase in the wholesale or retail prices of meat would be considered by the commission, and the commission was not prepared to do anything to straighten out the anomalies which existed between the present fixed retail price and the prices the butchers have had to pay in order to purchase stock throughout the South Island. The meeting was presided over by Mr A. C. Cameron, chairman of the South Island Fat Stock Committee, who outlined the position. Several of those present expressed disappointment with the reply received. The South Island Committee, it was stated, had gone to a great deal of trouble in prssenting its facts, and the feeling of the meeting was that the commission had given scant consideration to the. case put forward. Rationing of Meat The chairman said that it was apparent that the rationing of meat would shortly be brought into force, and that this would have* a very important bearing on the question of supply and, in particular, the demand for besf. Mr A. C. Leary said it was obvious that if the rationing scheme was introduced in a way which meant a reduction of. the average price which had ruled at the stock auctions during the past year there would be a still further reduction in the quantity of fat beef available. Quantities had declined over recent years, mainly because the price was not sufficiently attractive to encourage fatter.ers to operate. Mr W. Lee said that if the Government wanted farmers to grow linen flax or wheat it paid a price sufficiently high to encourage production. Mr J. Macaulay (South Canterbury) said that it appeared to him that stabilisation and starvation went together. As soon as the Government took control of a commodity it made a mess of it, and production suffered. Mr T. L. Couper said that the whole object of rationing was to ensure that there would be more meat available for export to the Old Country. This object would not be achieved unless the rationing was carried out in such a way as to ensure that production would be kept up. Strong exception w3p taken by various speakers to the fact that apparently the primary producers were not being consulted in regard to the rationing scheme which was being drawn up. From press reports it appeared to be obvious that the Master Butchers’ Association was in full consultation with the Government, but apparently primary producing organisations were having no say. Protest by Producers

On the motion of Mr Leary, seconded by Mr Lee, the following telegram, to be sent to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr B. Roberts, was approved by the meeting, the telegram to be signed by Mr Lee as provincial president of the Farmers’ Union, Mr Leary as chairman of the Primary Production Council, and Mr Cameron as chairman of the South Island Fat Stock Committee:—

“At a representative meeting of farmers, graziers, and stock agents held to discuss marketing problems in relation to beef, mutton, and lamb, the strongest possible exception was taken to the action of the Government in drawing up a meat rationing scheme in consultation with the butchers without apparently consulting the authorised representatives of the primary producers, who will be expected to supply the stock and may have to accept reduced prices. In the opinion of the meeting, the whole object of rationing will be defeated if the producers do not get a payable price, as the production of beef in the South Island will still further diminish. We strongly urge that producers’ representatives be included in the discussions even at this late dale.” Railage of Store Stock Various problems in connection with the railage of store stock were discussed ’by the meeting, and satisfaction was expressed at the results of an interview between a sub-committee and the local district traffic manager.