SHORTAGE OF MEAT

Te Puke Times, 2 September 1919, Page 2

SHORTAGE OF MEAT

SYDNEY EATING RABBITS

In spite of bitter protests-and growing resentment of the- community, the meat interests manage to keep the prices of meat for local consumption at the export parity' (writes the (Wellington Post's Sydney correspondent.) In any case, the supplies which reach the local.market are scarce- v lv sufficient M requirements, and this tends to' put the price' up. The rates have grown stead-: ' ily, and the quality of the meat has depreciated, until it is no exaggeration to. say.'.that in, Sydney to-day high quality meat is a luxury only for wealthy Australians and for consumers abroad, \The low-class stuff goes to the average consumer at home';;•; ':■: At one time Sydney' turned - hopefully to fish. The Governmenthad whooped loudly and often about the State trawling, service—an alleged magnificentsystem of bringing from the sea great quantities of good food for the people. But, alas! for human" hopes. The trawling service, being a State affair, has never prospered. It has done nothing, apparently, to.lower the price offish or make larger supplies avail-- v able. Fresh schnapper was actually selling in Sydney shops recently at 2s 6d per pound. Yet magnificent fishing grounds lie all around Sydney.-.. . .. .-. <: *■»> So the harrassed Sydney housed keeper has turned to rabbits'/ Good plump rabbits are being sold for eightpence or ninepence each. There is an abundance of i the animals in the country, and the trade is developing, by leaps and bounds. Thousands of men-' are out trapping, .making big, cheques. They sell to a sort oF middleman, who takes'/the: skin ; and.sends thecarcaseon to.tlie* retailers. The latter arelswarrn^ * ing out over Sydney every morning with their big carts full of bunny, and they meet a quick and easy sale. ; , Everyone seems-satv) isfied-the rabbit traders, because the trade pays thetn' well, and ''o* consumers, who are getting] aW attrsc:ive and wholesome food at a fair price -not to speak of thex farmers, who see inroads being '' made in theranks of their most unc Mpromising and enemy.