FAT STOCK PRICES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 280, 26 November 1943, Page 4

FAT STOCK PRICES

MAINTAINING STABILITY (P.A.) Wellington, Nov.. 25. “The general purpose of the Fat Stock Disposal Order is to maintain stability in the buying and slaughtering of export stock,” the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. B. Roberts, stated to-day when announcing that the order for 1942 had been revoked and replaced by a similar order for 1943. with the exception that the season on which the purchase and slaughter of stock is based is that ending September 30, 1941. The Minister said it was necessary to revert to this basis because certain producers and operators had departed from the intention of the original order without authority, action which was unfair to other producers and operators who had observed the order. The Minister said that movement in operators’ buying schedule was controlled by average conditions, both in respect of growth of wool and the ablity of operators to function within their prescribed margins. This provided an opportunity for certain producers at various times to exploit the position to their nersonal gain bv selling stock which might have a wool pull above the average and which, if put into work on their account, would give them a higher return than the recognised buying schedule. This practice had increased in the past two seasons and reacted to the detriment of the bulk of the producers. The Government, did not wish this tendency to develop as it did not want to have to review the “open door” policy.