SALE OF BEEF.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1922, Page 5

SALE OF BEEF.

PREJUDICE AT HOME. OLD STOCK THE CAUSE. DISPOSAL THE REMEDY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received March 8, 5.5 p.m. London, March 7. The Australian Press Association learns that the New Zealand Government has definitely refused Vestey’s offer to purchase stocks of old meat. While Australian lamb and mutton are selling well the market for Australasian and foreign beef is still deplorable, beef being hardly saleable at 3%d. Mr. Jowett, interviewed, states the chief causes of the beef slump are the bad effect on the public’s mind, of old stock and the relentless war being carried on by importers of Argentine beef, which is being sold below cost. Mr. Jowett believes a quick remedy can be found, but it entails finding a large sum of money. The remedy consists of the acceptance of Vestey’s offer to relieve the British market of the whole of the old beef, amounting to 150,000 quarters, selling the same at the best obtainable price on the Continent, for which Vestey’s demand a bonus of £lOO,OOO. If this sum could be found, Mr. Jowett believes it would turn out a profitable investment for Australia in the long run. He is of opinion that the farmers and people of Australia ought to be made aware of the precise situation before the Government breaks off negotiations with Vestey’s. Mr. Jowett says the Australian producers do not realise the terrible prejudice of the people in Britain against the accumulated old beef. He points out, in reply to an interview in the Yorkshire Observer, in which West Yorkshire butchers declared that old Australian beef was quite unsaleable in the poorest industrial areas, and that it is a poor third rate article compared with Argentine, though he is personally satisfied that when properly thawed and cooked it is not distinguishable from the best fresh beef. Mr. Jowett also points out that a similar prejudice ex'isted against Australian mutton and lamb last year, but as soon as the old stocks were cleared out . in January the prejudice quickly disappeared and prices rose rapidly. He believes a similar result will follow* the immediate disposal of old beef by an enhanced price for new shipments, quickly recouping the outlay entailed by accepting Vestey’s offer. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.