Imperial Valley press., 1945-03-15
MEAT DEARTH AND SHORTAGE
ON REVEALING REAL CAUSE


With meat counters and cases in El
Centre running a close second to "Old
Mother Hubbard's Cupboard for weeks
and it has been the same in every trad
ing place in the land it would seem
that there could not be a skimpier show
ing. But not so. In recent days there
have been whispered warnings from the
war food administration and kindred bur-
eaus in Washington of further shortages
Whispered because the government
had been told more than year ago that
this very thing would happen, and did
nothing about it.
1t was not until the meat supplies had
reached the vanishing point that the di-
recting powers at Washington would ad-
nit the situation.
There is no disposition on the part of
the public to grumbe-that is very
seriousiy-as long as the fighting forces
are obtaining regular and sufficient
amounts. But a survey indicates that
the shortage threatens the military re-
Quirements.
The American Meat Institute Is author
ity for observing four causes for the now
acute dearth in all types of meats The
first, tells the story as it standS-the
lowest February stocks in history. That
L.
there would not be shortage, or to put
it another way, if there was plenty, there
would be no shortage. That is as simple
as the expression credited to Coolidge
when he observed that "he had noticed
that whenever a factory closed down
there was loss Of jobs The other reasons
are given as drop-off in production,
black market and increased demands of
the military and lend-lease.
A long-range production program.
which stock growers and packers urged
long ago would have averted any ma
terial shortage at any time. But the
minds az Washington couldn't see why
those experienced in both raising the
stock for sale on the hoof and IN Slaught-
ering and packing should know anything
about the whole thing. Then began the
depletion of the ranges; cutting the
packing market with cattle Tar from
ready for beef restrictions on hog rails
ing and feeding, an official bar to un-
limited feeds for properly fattenlng the
stock.
And so the present stocks of slaughter
ed meats are low, simply because there
is a low count of stock on the hoof and
with not even the range to fall back upon,
for animals grown for feeding.
Putting new twist to an old saw, you
can't eat cake if you don't have the cake.
There is TO course heavier demands
from the military and it will be nothing
short of tragedy as we'll as a scandal II
these needs can not be met because OF
Official bungling.
Packers look to growers for stocks.T They
have empty lockers because the govern
ment has failed the growers. The cattle
problem became acute many months ago.
Now pork is as scarce as beef and CEN
sus reveals the situation again-no hogs.
hogs.
It is sorry plight for nation as re-
sourcefu and unlimited as ours for
production program of plenty.
We have done you no harm-do not
harm our little hOme.-Slgn in vacated
German home on Western Front.
How can you expect to win war when
YOU have no gasoline and no horses? 1t
will all be over within four months-flVe
months at the latest.-German Lt.-Gen.
Graf Won ROthkirk, captured near Cob
LEM.
If either the United States or Russia
or Great Britain decide in the next p
wears to make war, then there will be
another world war and no organization
or league or union or treaties will stop
it.-Cmdr Harold Z. StasSen.