DEMAND FOR BEEF

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2369, 27 January 1915, Page 6

DEMAND FOR BEEF

ffIGH PRICE OFFERED <5 MEAT WANTED FOE FRANCE (By Magiapi..—Weag iuroooletioaJ Auckland, January 26. Having been unable to secure space in j the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Com-, i pany's works at Southdown for the killing of stock; the firm of W. and R. Fletchcr, Limited, has made aji offer to purchase from anyone having space booked at the works prime ox beef at 425. per 1001b.'on the. hooks during the next two months. This price represents a considerable advance on the present values, the current quotations for beef being 365. to 385.. per 1001b. The reason for the firm's announcement was explained by. Mr. A. Bevins, local representative for Messrs. Vestey i Bros., oi London, wWise business mclades trading operations conducted unI&6T ttie styf\e ot \sV anil B>. "E\etcheT, I Ltd.- He stated that the firm has an understanding to contract to supply 1 600 tons of beef per month for the troops of the Allies, and arrangements [have been made for the shipment of meat direct from New Zealand to the French ports. Mr. Bevins said that sufficient stock had been purchased to rneot the requirements of the contracts, but during the past month tho. firm had not been able to obtain killing space at Southdown to supplement the productive capacity of the works at Whangarei, with the result that shipments during January had been only half the contract quantity. Mr. Bevins explained. that in order to meet the obligations of its contracts the firm had decided to offer the advanced price of 425. for any beef killed' 1 at Southdown during February and March. '

Tho slaughtering houses at the Southdown Works, are still working to their full capicty, the Btock handled daily including 100 head of cattle, so that during the two months the. output of beef from .the works will be about 4000'carcasse's.

CHEISTOHUIiCH BUTCHER'S • OPINION.

■ _ . Chrlstchurch, January 26. A leading Christchurch butcher, in an interview, Baid : "There is every indication of an impending beef famine. At present there is. little beef at a price below 40s. per IGOlb. finding its way to the shops." There was undoubtedly a dearth of fat cattle. Export buyerß were scouring the country and giving prices for all descriptions of beef which would have! astonished cattle raisers of bygone years.