FAT STOCK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21448, 12 September 1939, Page 10

FAT STOCK

Protest Against Price Fixation “ Manifestly Unfair ” By Telegraph—Press Association DUNEDIN, September 11. There is not yet any definite information concerning the fate of the protest by the Master Butchers’ Association against the official instruction that they cannot increase retail prices to cover the increased prices ruling recently for fat stock. The attitude of Otago farmers toward the suggested fixation of price is summed up in a telegram sent to-day by the president of the Otago Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to the Minister of Industries and Commerce. It reads as follows:

“Otago farmers emphatically protest against the manifest unfairness of the price fixation of meat as war conditions are in no way responsible for the recent increases in fat stock prices. This is solely due to the season’s climatic conditions and mainly to the effects of the recent prolonged and severe snowstorms on stock and the fact that they caused a very extensive wastage of winter feed. As a result farmers now have fewer fat stock to sell and therefore require greatly enanced prices to compensate them for these heavy storm losses. I feel sure that the justification for this protest will appeal to you.” MINISTER TO BE APPROACHED By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, September 11. Christchurch butchers, concerned over the prices for fat stock ruling at Addington market and prevented by the Emergency Regulations from increasing their rates, will make representations to the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) to-morrow. In a statement on Saturday the Minister said that the master butchers at Dunedin would have to return to the rates ruling before September 1. In Christchurch the prices were increased on August 31, but since then there has been a further rise in the market. The Minister hinted that steps would be taken to control prices at stock auctions. The rates at Addington are at present the highest in the Dominion, because of the abnormal shortage of mutton and beef, but it has been stated that this can be overcome partly by the release of surplus export mutton.