BEEF MARKETING

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23970, 10 June 1943, Page 4

BEEF MARKETING

NEW STABILISATION SCHEME POSSIBILITY NEXT MONTH As an alternative to the proposed method of marketing beef, the general committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association in Christchurch yesterday decided to urge the necessity of paying a suffl. cient price for late winter and early spring beef with due regard to the higher cost of southern production allied with the necessity of maintain! ing the quality of the supply 0 f fresh beef for consumers. Mr W. H. Nicholson, during the dis. cussion on this resolution, said he believed that the Government’s (stabilisetion scheme for beef would degnhely come into operation at the end month. vY The committee also approved'of a suggested remit to the annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society 0 f New Zealand, which will be held in Wellington on June 23, asking that a scheme for the elimination of scrub bulls, which had been suggested some years ago. should be supported. Mr R. C. Todhunter: What can we get for a decent bull these days? A fiver or a tenner. It is far more profitable to sell as steers. But where are we getting? What is the policy of the Government? The breeder* have had no encouragement whatsoever from the, Government to breed beef cattle. The president (Mr John Brooks): W| want to keep going, certainly. It was not generally realised, said Mr D. W. Westenra. that it cost * great deal more to fatten a fat bullock in the South Island than in the North ' Island. Doubtless, the Government was looking after the consumer. Nevertheless, the producer had to show that his expenses had been greatly increased. Mr Todhunter: If we are not careful the quality will fall. There is no encouragement to breed good stuff. The burning question at the moment, said Mr R. T. McMillan (who moved the resolution that was eventually . adopted), was that of price. ‘‘Could not the Government agree to some form of grading?” he asked. When seconding the resolution, Mr G. H. Grigg declared that it was not going to pay breeders to keep their cattle through the winter. In hi* opinion grading was essential. The president; I am afraid we have 1 no alternative to the Government’* scheme. It is either that or the aboil- ■ tion of the Addington stockyards. Mr Nicholson: The scheme Is' Coning all right.