FEDERAL BEEF SUBSIDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1922, Page 5

FEDERAL BEEF SUBSIDY.

PRESS COMMENTS. A GLOOMY OUTLOOK. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, May 15. The Herald, dealing with the Federal Government’s beef subsidy scheme, says everybody in the industry is gratified that the scheme has been accepted by all sections, but it is recognised that it is not going to transform the cattlemen’s position from depression to prosperity in one act. An expert, after working out costs on a new basis, estimates the price paid for prime cattle on stations in Queensland at £3 10s per head. Even this low price is better than nothing, and will enable cattlemen to dispose of their surplus stock, allowing for station expenditure, killing and other charges. The Herald says that, even with the scheme in working, it appears likely that the industry will be several million pounds on the wrong side of the balance in the coming reason, without considering possible losses from drought and disease. The Queensland cattlemen realise there is a very hard time ahead, unless the English market improves or the cost of production is further reduced. . The position of the New South W ales cattlemen is regarded as little, if any, better than that of the Queensland men. The Herald adds that in all States the cattlemen have received such a setback during the past two years that the view is strongly held that in the future no country suitable for sheep will run larger stock. It is considered the time is not far distant when Queensland will be running 30 million sheep, nearly twice the present number, by displacing the equivalent of eattle.