Evening star., 1942-10-04

He said the shortage of beef supplies
directly threatened the retail price CELL
ing on beef products. Present prices, he
declared, provide a fair return to the
producers. "The board will use every
means in its power to prevent break
in the government policy Of stabilizing
prices through the medium of a price
ceiling" he said.
Defies Farm Bloc.
In these words. Mr.. Gordon defied the
farm bloc. Recent statements by Mr..
Gardiner have given a different in
terpretation Of the beef shortage Quot
ing market statistics, the Minister of
Agriculture showed that Canadian beef
producers have steadily increased pro-
duction Marketings rose from 1,026, 900
head in 1889, to 1,013,00O head in 1910,
10000 head in 1941, and the increase
has continued during 1912
The farmer" Mr.. Gardiner said, has
done good job and has had less tinsn-
clal consideration than any other. 1t is
time these insinuations that he is getting
too much for his produce either in the
United States or Canada cease" Mr..
Gardiner advised Canadian farmers to
mold their cattle off the market. feed
them Tor the next six months in view OF
tne abundance OF feed grain in Canada,
and sell them as heavy cattle next
spring. This is the only method by
which beef supplies can be Increased
within the next six months and an in
crease in beef production within that ne-
riod is essential"
Mr.. Gardiner has announced a two
year program for increasing the Cana
dian meat supply Tremendous shipments
OF pork and dairy products to Britain
nave created run on other foods. par-
tlcularly beef. Coupled with increased
purchasing power throughout the Cana
dian population and the popularity of
nee! IN Army rations, the demand tor
oee1 has steadily exceeded supplies.
Higher Export Prices.
10 meet higher demands for pork, the
government recently decided to allow a.
higher export price on hogs, keeping the
retail price of pork under strict cont-ol
This will make possible, it is honed The
shipment of 7oo,ooo.Ooo pounds OF bacon
10 Britain in the next IL months com.
pared with 625y0OO,00O pounds in 1s41
IL may also increase domestic supplies
u pork, easing the demand for beef
But the only way to increase beef SUD-
phes IN any time less than three wears.
Mr. Gardner declared, is to feed the
existing supply of cattle for another six
mon1ns or year, adding 200 to 300
pounds on each animal.
canada has not filled its beef cattle
quota IN the United States during the
tnrd quarter Of 1912. The War Prices
Board intervened last summer, exercis-
ing the right to buy cattle that would
otherwise be exported and retain them at
nome. The quarterly quota is 81 900
head, but exports were halted ear,v in
September when Canadian producers
were still entitled. under the Canada
United States trade agreement tn s,in
10000 head more.
To beef cattle producers, this is
source OF worry, since the United States
quota Is an important factor in the
canadian trade. "The economic advan-
tages IN relation to cattle" Mr.. Gardiner
said, ARE in maintaining our connec.
tions with the United States" Anv de-
velopments appearing to endaneer tho
United States quota would brinr a storm
Of protest from cattle producer. around
the heads OF the price controllers.