PRICES FOR STOCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26559, 6 September 1947, Page 4

PRICES FOR STOCK

Although stock producers in Otago could find no fault with the high prices that have been ruling on the Burnside market for some time, they were more than a little concerned at the rumours early this week that the butchers planned to bid no higher than the schedule rales. Stock had already been despatched to Burnside when the rumours began to circulate, and the producers could only “ wait and see.” After the exceptionally high prices ruling at the previous sale, there was a large yarding of both cattle and sheep at Burnside last Wednesday. What recession there was in prices could be attributable only to the size of the yarding, and not to any direct action by the buyers to keep prices down. Until this week, the schedule prices had not meant a great deal, because the values ruling at auction have soared above the schedule level. This is a natural tendency during the winter months. But now that attention has been directed to the schedule rates, it is pertinent to observe that they are totally inadequate for the South Island, especially Otago and Southland. With its more favourable climate, the North Island has no winter feed problems comparable with the two southern provinces, where meat producers spendmost of the summer making preparations for feed with which to winter and fatten their stock. This entails considerable extra expense, for which the producers are justly entitled to receive compensation by way of-higher prices than those in the North Island, It is a mystery why this obvious factor is never considered, or, if it has been considered, why something tangible has not been done about it. Early next week the Meat Board's Prices Committee will discuss with the Stabilisation Commission the case for increased fat stock schedule prices for the 1947-48 season.