THE SLUMP IN BEEF.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4442, 19 July 1922, Page 2

THE SLUMP IN BEEF.

HOW THE SITUATION MAY BE RELIEVED.

The beef market in the United Kingdom has for some time been flooded with large supplies from South America, and in consequence the prices realised for frozen beef from New Zealand have been in. many cases insufficient to meet the cost of freezing and freight. Fanners of. this country cannot continue to breed and fatten cattle without at least covering the prime cost, and the consequent limitation of breeding and tho slaughter of calves at birth will result ir< an extremely serious position from a national standpoint. There are at present a very large number of prime fat cattle on the farms of New Zealand flor which there is no demand, and until these animals are cleared away by export or by local consumption, it is pot possible to rear the young stock which are so necessary to maintain the number and quality of our herds. With the great increase of dairying on pastures previously devoted to cattle fattening it is now imperative .that every encouragement should be given to farmers not only to maintain but. to increase their herds on the higher country.

It might have been expected that the fall in the price of; beef (for the local market is affected by the British) would have induced a greater demand for this class of meat here, but there has not been this experience. As a matter of fact there is only sufficient beef raised in New Zealand to supply the Dominion’s own population if we were as great eaters of. beef as we are 06 mutton. Beef is equal’y as nutritious as a food and probably more economical in its use. If the housewives of New Zealand would decide to substitute beef for mutton on certain days they would assist the prosperity of the country, and yet benefit themselves by changing their diet. The price of beef •would not be raised to them by this increased demand; it would only mean that farmers would lie able to dispose of ,their fat cattle at local current rates in the saleyards and replace with young stock, which, would otherwise, not be bred of which would be slaughtered at birth. At the same time more sheep and lambs would be left available for export to Britain, at a time when there is a good demand at Home for them at a remunerative figure, and for the increase of our sheep flocks.

On much of the grazing country of New Zealand, particularly in the North Island, it is very necessary that cattle should be run alternately with sheep to keep up the quality of the pasture, otherwise deterioration pf both the country and the sheep is certain. The last interim return of the sheep flocks in the Dominion shows nearly a million decrease in the last twelve months, whereas it is very desirable that the reverse should be the experience at a time when the world,’s consumption is increasing and markets are extending for mutton and lamb.

It is suggested by the New Zealand Merit Producers’ Board, which has gone carefully into the question, that if i'he people of New Zealand would follow the course suggested and buy beef, or at least, buy more beef than in the past, instead of mutton and lamb, they would greatly assist the country.

This might very well be viewed as a national necessity—a national movement designed for a national benefit. Such movements are often heard of in other countries where industries are threatened and wh'ere disaster to national finance follows upon their extinction. It is a movement in which every citizen of the Dominion who has his or her country’s welfare at heart can assist. The idea of such a campaign may be new to this country, but the spirit which should assist its success is not.