SHORTAGE OF MEAT

Nelson Evening Mail, 27 September 1916, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF MEAT

SERIOUS POSITION IN: JNTELSON. In -conversation with a Mail reporter, to-day Mn F. W. Fairey, the well-known local butcher, referred to the shortage of meat in- the Nelson province, and remarked that the position haci become very serious and would prob&bly eventuate in a famine, so far as 'beef was, concerned at any rate. * The supply of cattle was practically exhausted, wjiile sheep, though still procurable, Wad reached a great, pijice, the advance being roug'lily 50 per cent on that ruling two years ago. The reason for the ,short- . age, Mr Fairey saidy was the Imperial purchases for Army purposes, which had depleted the New Zealand flocks', and herds; Following on the ; droughts ia Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, and the TyairarapaX which also had the effect of reducing the number of sto.ck, there was now more feed, in those districts than could be fed off, and North Island, buy - ' ers are scouring Nelson, province for stock, and paying high prices. In the ' North Island a record price had -been realised for wether liogpets, 275. It is stated' that one of the Takaka Ibutchers has had to close' down owing to being unable to obtain supplies. Butchers in other country districts have also had; to close for the same reason, and the residents of these districts have sent in to city butchers asking to bo supplied with meat, and have had to be refused. Altogether, concluded Mr Fairey, the outloplc for meat supplies Was most serious, and what the end 'of it all would' be, and the price of meat was likely to go to he could not foresee.