ADJUSTMENTS TO FAT STOCK SCHEDULE

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 October 1950, Page 6

ADJUSTMENTS TO FAT STOCK SCHEDULE

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA) —The Government, on the recommendation of the New Zealand Producers’ Board, has agreed to’some adjustments being made this year in the nominal opening schedule of fat. stock prices. This has been done to encourage producers to concentrate their production on the classes of meat most needed for the export trade. Announcing this tonight, the acting Minister of Marketing (Mr. Macdonald) said the schedule for the coming year, while showing a slight increase for some classes of beef, also showed a decrease in mutton prices compared with last year. If the butchers relate their prices to export schedule prices, as they must do in the export season, the result should be a reduction in the present local prices now ruling. The Minister said that in recent years the Minister of Marketing hao issued on October 1, the opening schedule prices based on production costs and embodying fixed pay-outs for hides and pelts. However, following the Government’s recent decision to allow full export parity prices to be paid for hides, pelts, tallow, and offals, which would give a higher but more variable return to producers for beef and mutton, the issuing of the nominal opening schedule of prices was no longer of value. The Meat Board, however, would issue a schedule for the guidance of the producer, It would be related to prices for hides, pelts, and wool, Mr. Macdonald said. In the nominal schedule rates for mutton, provision was made for pay-outs more in accordance with market values for the different grades. Increases had been made in two classes of beef to further the production of the types of beef most desired for the export trade.