PRICES FOR MEAT

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1931, Page 12

PRICES FOR MEAT

AN UNCERTAIN OUTLOOK FARMERS’ OPINIONS. INCREASE LIKELY IN MAY. Masterton, Dec. 17. Referring to meat marketing conditions, during a discussion at a meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. W. Berry, Wairarapa representative on the Meat Producers’ Board, said that wonderfully good work had been done by the board’s representative at Home in getting a tremendous supply of lamb into rendition and maintaining reasonable prices. Mr. Perry’s feeling was that prices to-day were on the low side. Australia am! the Argentine had. been shipping immense quantities. In addition, the j>re--ent time was not a lambing period al Home, and where the market would get to was a little uncertain. His own opinion was that May, June and July would probably see quite fair prices. It was a question whether there would be space to hold the meat here until the market improved. If the meat had to be sent Home meantime to make room for killing, there . would be storage to pay at Home. Regarding pork, Mr. Perry said that Australia and the Argentine had been sending large quantities to Britain, and although first-class pork was bringing a fair price, the mafket outlook was ratiicr uncertain. MORE GLOOMY FORECAST. A more gloomy forecast was giveri by Mr. J. C. Cooper, who said he saw no prospect of any great increase in prices for produce.; The dairyman, like the sheep-man, could not look forward to much improvement in • his prices for some time to come. The price of wool, particularly crossbred, was particularly low. Wool had not accumulated like other products, but it would accumulate this year, which had been one of extraordinarily heavy production. The position was affected materially by a heavy over supply of cotton—24 million bales in stock, as against an annual world requirement of 11 million bales. Cotton was . being. produced in Egypt at one penny a pound. Where were they then with their wool? Excellent siik was being made-from wood pulp, and enough wood pulp to clothe the whole world for ages to come could be grown in the valley of the Alriazorj alone. He considered (that the first tiling to be tackled in New Zealand was the reduction 4 n kind values. WOOL SALES DISASTROUS. The president, Mr. 'C. 0, Jackson, said that the recent wool sales had been disastrous. Every 'persbu ih NeW Zealand had looked forward to getting something out of the sales. 'What had happened was that wool at Wellington brought on the average 3Jd to 4£d a pound. The sheep farmer could not carry on in these circumstances, with beef, mutton and lamb correspondingly low. New Zealand butter was only ■bringing 102 s to J.o6s for the choicest quality. The pork industry was in a deplorable condition. In addition they had the drought. „ Sir. H. Bennett: It is raining. You are a pessimist. The one bright spot, Mr. Jackson said, rvas that as the result of the recent elections they had a stable Government.