MEAT PRICES

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 10

MEAT PRICES

ARGENTINE AND NEW ZEALAND. EFFECT OF TRUST CONTROL. The statement has been made recently tha't the prices of beef and mutton in. Argentina are higher than in this country. Some figures have been prepared for the Prime Minister, showing actual prices obtainable for beef cattle and fat sheep in the Argentine and in New Zealand as on April 1, 1917. From 'these it would appear (says Saturday's Dominion) that the control of the Argentine markets by the Meat Trust has not been for the benefit of 'the meat producers. ] On March 28 extra prime bullocks were sold at Burnside market for £23 2s 6d, and the price of such bullocks in Argentina was £l4 10s to £ls 15s. Good bullock 3 ranged from £l6 10s to £lB 15s at Burnside, from £l3 17s 6d to £2l 17s 6d at Westfield (near Auckland), and the Argentine prices were from £8 15s to £lO 10s. Extra good steers ranged from £ls 15s to £l7 10s in Argentina, and " good " from £l4 to £l4 17s 6d. In only one class of mutton did the Argentine compare in price with that paid for New Zealand. For best wethers Argentine growers seem to have received about a pound a head more than New Zealand farmers received for their best wethers, but it should be understood that these sheep are bigger and heavier than those grown in this country. The meat is admittedly inferior in quality, and before the war it commanded a less price in the London market, but wether mutton has had increased value because it has been used for Army rations. For all other classes of eheep the Argentine prices were from 7s to 9s lower, and for lambs the Argentino prices were from 10s to 12s less than the New Zealand rates. Under the controlled system at Homo, Argentine meat is bringing as much now in the retail market ag Now Zealand meat In reference to th« price of cattle, the Argentine prices ara especially bad by reason of the fact that

the Argentine herds, being bred for beef, and very carefully bred, are generally better than those of this country. The best cattle there would be better than any that would be commonly offered for sale in this country. Argentine beef is of excellent quality, and the beasts are bigger than we soe generally here.