PORK AND POULTRY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 31, 30 October 1937, Page 4

PORK AND POULTRY

Unprecedented Shortage in Hastings EFFECT OF EXP0RT TRADE A marked shortage of poultry and pork is being felt in Hastings and Napier, in eommon with other parts of the Dominion. The shortage has existed for some considerable time but this week-end it has been specially difficult to purchase fowls in town for Sunday dinners. "there certainly is a serious shortage," replied a Hastings pork-butcher this morning when asked about the position in Hastings as regards pork. The shortage, he added, extended practically all over the country and efforts to obtain supplies from other districts had been unsuccessful. The, position had been much the same for quite a long time and there seemed little likelihoOd of any change. He blamed the late spring as a contributing factor, but he also thought that the growth of te Dominion 's pig export was having an effect upoii the local supplies. Otlier butchers emphasised tfie impossibility of meeting orders, and attributed the diminished supply to the activities of dealers and stock buyers who bought pigs direct from the farmers and had them slaughtered for export abroad. "Feople ring up and order fowls for the week-end on Mondays, but even then we are unable to fulfil orders always," said a purveyor of poulry. "Of course a shOTtage of poultry is to be expected at this time of the year, but thfe present position is without precedept. It seems that the shortage of pork is here to stay unless the Government can take some action to overcome the difiiculty. ' '