Evening star., 1943-11-18

|fOT FORK Pr0QucS
Announced by 0PA
A two-point ration reduction
in pork, including ham, bacon
and choice pork cuts, has been
ordered by the once of Price
Administration, effective tomor-
row. The Government is taking
emergency measures to avert q
glut In the wholesale hog market
and to forestall a possible price
collapse for farmers.
simultaneously with the OPA an
nouncement of the ration reduction
which the agency stressed was for a
limited period only, the VIA guar
anteed to all pork markets the sup
port price Of $1375 for good and
choice 200-to-270-pound hogs, now
in effect in Chicago only.
Beginning November 20, the SUD-
lport price at each market other
than Chicago will be 81 a 100 pounds
below the OPA's price ceiling at
that market. The Chicago support
price will be unchanged. The an
nounced prices will remain effective
until VIA determines the need for
a more flexible support price at
markets outside Of Chicago.
Some Cuts Point Free.
The reduction in ration point
costs Of pork is effective at 1901
am. tomorrow. The higher valued
cuts will be reduced at least 20
per cent, or from 10 to 8 points a
pound, according to Price Admins
traitor Chester Bowles. Over the
list as a whole the average point
reduction will be one-third. The
reduction will make some pork items
point free.
OPA emphasized that the reduc-
ton applies only to pork and 100
per cent pork sausage. 1t does not
change the present point value of
lard, those sausages not made ex-
clusively from pork or any other
products rationed under the meat
fats order.
Canned meats, even though they
are made from pork, remain un-
changed.
Meanwhile. the st. Louis Joint
Livestock Marketing Improvement
Committee urged food officials here,
according to an Associated Press
dispatch,' to remove all ration point
requirements. for fresh pork for at
least 90 days. Current hog re-
ceipts, the telegram stated, are at
record-breaking proportions, and in
creasingly heavy receipts are ex-
pected.
What's Two POints?"
A. F. Verson, committee secretary
said the two-point reduction was
"a step in the right direction-but
what's two points?"
Mr.. Bowles said the OPA action
reflects the necessity OF increasing
the market outlet for the relatively
large amount Of pork now being
produced" but should not be inter-
preted as meaning that there has
been sudden improvement in the
overall rationed meat picture
"An too often in the past this
agency, which rations the supply
available for civilians, has been
forced by wartime necessity to re-
duce rather than increase civilian
allowances" Mr.. Bowles added.
whenever we have had an oppor-
tunity to increase the ration OF food
or other rationed commodities we
have grasped the opportunity. We
are just as happy to increase the
ration allowance as consumers are
to receive it."
He expressed belief the reduction
will take the premium of black
market operations"
Asks Co operation.
'The Government stands ready to
buy and is buying federally inspected
products at prices which will enable
slaughterers to pay not less than
the support prices for the hogs they
purchase for slaughter" VIA said.
Most slaughterers have been CO.
operating in maintaining the sup
port price. VIA asks that they
continue to do so.'
In another step, taken with a view
to making storage facilities avail
able for the record crop, VIA au-
thorized farmers for a period of 80
days to slaughter any hogs owned
by them and deliver the meat with
out obtaining a license or permit.
Persons who purchase or are given
the meat must, however, surrender
ration points for it.
VIA also appealed to farmers to
get in touch with their marketing
agency before shipping hogs, so they
will be advised if the slaughtering
facilities are overtaxed.
There is no reason why any
farmer should sell for less than the
support price, since the Government
will continue to purchase hog prod
ucts on that basis" VIA said.
These products will be purchased
for the Army, Navy and other gov
ernmental uses. If the farmers will
cooperate in orderly marketing and
not cause the market to become con-
gested, the price can and will be
maintained"
One VIA official said that in
event present plans fail to check the
overflow of hogs to markets, the
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