BEEF SHORTAGE

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10958, 5 October 1928, Page 5

BEEF SHORTAGE

RISE IN RETAIL PRICE COXSUAIER’S OUTLOOK. Electric Telegraph—Press Association AIASTERTON. October 4. A serious shortage of beef cattle is at present affecting the Wairr.rapa district in common with other parts of New Zealand. Butchers of the town have been forced to, increase the retail price of beef by one penny per lb., and the outlook for tire consumer is not favourable. On the ether hand, there are indication® of a good season ahead for the dairy farmer. One butcher of ober twenty years' experience, upon being interviewed by a press representative in Masterton, stated that- in his opinion the days of cheap beef in Nexx- Zealand were past. There was a shortage in the district of female beef cattle, particularly. Beef was costing £2 10s per 100 lb at the sales, tantamount to £2O a bullock. The prices ruling at present had not been equalled for a considerable time past. Butchers of the town had been compelled to raise the price of beef for retail purposes, or go out of business. Indeed, be ventured to say that, not one butcher in Next' Zealand could sel! cheap beef to-day and do well out of it. “The local market has been considerably affected, it appears, by the operations of buyers from other dis-. tricts. There are sufficient beef cattle in the Wairarapa to supply the local demand, but large consignments have been taken by Taranaki buyers, who have been operating extensively in the district for some time past. That they in turn are not able to retail beef cheaply i s shown by the fact that after paying 50s per hundred lb., they have to meet transportation charges, along with which there is the bruising of the stock to be considered. “It is hard on the consumer, because the consumer is the one who has to pay,” remarked another informant. He observed that the position was felt all the more by Nexx' Zealanders, because they generally required three meat meals a day. in contrast to. the requirements of those in other countries. In addition, the New Zealander required the best cuts, for which he had to pay comm ene ura tely. “No doubt, the position will right itself, but I cannot see" any prospect of cheap beef for two or three years to come. Farmers seem to be concentrating on export, but apart from that-, he hag difficulty in obtaining the extra capital required to restock. However, present conditions are satisfactory for the grazier. In the past the grazier had been lefUa very small margin of profit, but now he would have a more payable proposition.”