Evening star., 1942-07-23
Henderson Asks
Packers Aid in
Meat Shortage
Urges ALLEGATION
OF Supplies With
Temporary Need

AS Washington and the East
faced a shortage of beef, veal and
pork. Price Administrator Hen
derson today appealed to live
stock and meat industries to con-
tinue distributing supplies nor
mally, without favoring cities In
which higher prices prevail.
Mr.. Henderson said that this
method of voluntary ALLEGATION of
available civilian supplies was sug-
gested as means of tiding the
country over its temporary" sum-
mer seasonal period of meat short
age. accentuated this year because
OF the large demand for the armed
forces and leaselend supplies.
Silent on Squeeze"
In a formal statement, Mr.. Hem
derson made no reference to the DOS
sibility Of putting a price ceiling on
livestock, absence of which was
charged by packers, with being
largely responsible for the shortage.
The ceiling previously placed on
dressed meat, with no ceiling on live
stock, had resulted in squeeze" on
the packers, they insisted, which left
many of them operating at such a
loss that they were either reducing
sharply their output. or In some
cases were shutting down.
Instead of touching on price CELL
ings, Mr.. Henderson today chose
to consider the situation as purely
temporary" matter. Price con-
troll regulation had not been placed
on agricultural products which show
seasonal fluctuation, such as fresh
vegetables. This might explain
partially Mr.. Henderson's reluc-
tance, it was believed. to place q
ceiling on livestock now.
Lamb Supply Plentiful.
While beef and pork supplies were
low in Washington, there apparently
was plenty of lamb on the market.
Estimates of the shortage here
varied from about 80 per cent to Is
per cent, according to a survey Of
meat packers and grocery chains.
The situation also was found to be
somewhat spotty One packer de-
! scribed the shortage acute" with
"meatless days" ahead. while a
| spokesman for one large grocery
chain insisted there was nothing
alarming"
Mr.. Henderson said the meat
shortage probably will not take a
material turn for the better for
another four to six weeks. when the
heavy fall run of hogs and cattle
come to market.
He also asked consumers to do
their part in the war effort and not
expect to obtain entirely normal
beef, veal and pork selections at
butcher shops during this period.
Troops Have First Call.
Buy carefully, buy conservatively
and buy less, If possible, during the
next six weeks" was Mr.. Hender-
sons advice to housewives Re
member that our armed forces and
those of our Allies who are fighting
your cause and mine must have first
call on our meat supply"
Mr.. Henderson said that although
the run of cattle to Federal in
spected slaughter houses up to the
past fortnight had held up rea-
sonably we'll with the average of the
past three years, the available sup
ply for civilian need has been re-
duced by the increased amount
needed by our armed forces and
Allies, and by additional demand
for beef, resulting from seasonal
shortage of pork products.
Beef supplies in the past fortnight
have dwindled about IS per cent
from the average of the previous
seven weeks, he said.
Two Government agencies today
sought solution to the problem.
The OPA, which had placed price
ceilings on dressed beef and dressed
pork last winter and spring, but
fixed none for livestock, and the
Agriculture Department both were
struggling with the situation.
An organization OF more than 400
small packers has appealed to both
Secretary of Agriculture Wickard
and Mr.. Henderson for a cell
ing on hogs and cattle at prices
which would give them fair
!