Imperial Valley press., 1945-04-04
MEAT SUPPLY STORIES
FAIL TO JIBE

Federal agencies tell different stories
about the present serious meat shortages.
1t really doesn't matter which is right, if
any; the fact remains there Is a shortage
and serious enough to threaten supplies
for the armed forces at home and abroad.
Starting with the Office of Price Ad-
ministration. report of recent date.
captioned Facts About the Meat Situa-
ton, has this to say: week before last
(say ten days ago) Federally inspected
beef slaughter for all requirements was
II per cent above year ago 1t has aver
aged IA per cent higher every week since
January. Today the number of beef cat
tie in the feed lots for fattening purposes
is close to an all-time high. On January
first, this year, 5 per cent more cattle
were in the feed lots than year ago and
81 per cent more than the 1930-40 aver
age. = In 1914 during the period Of
greatest hog production, the actual mar
ket price was substantially below OPA
ceiling prices 4 = The so-called corn
hog ratio is at present very close to the
traditional balance which was maintained
from 20 years before the war"
Only one conclusion-there is plenty of
meat.
Turn to the War Food Administration.
The director of supply for that bureau,
only Tuesday, testifying before a senate
food shortage probe, bluntly said that
Americans and Canadians will have to
get along with even less to eat this year.
Said he further. various shortages rap
idly are developing, not only in meats but
in fats and oils, dairy products, dried
eggs, sugar and rice" And then, asked
for the reasons, he sprung the old one.
very simple-supplies are down and re-
quirements are up"
The war meat board, another Federal
unit, reported, officially, mind you, and
only last week, that meat production in
Federally-inspected plants totaled 271,-
100000 pounds, decrease of 100000
pounds" Still further, said this report,
production was 100000 pounds under
that of the corresponding week year
ago." The board also disclosed that ''the
sharp decline reflected a decrease in
slaughter of all meat animals, partlcu-
larly hogs, estimating the 743,000 hogs
were slaughtered compared with 8O0,00O
the preceding week and 1861 900 year
ago"
Now these agencies, plus nobody knows
how many more, are in absolute control
of production and ALLEGATION. If they
can't come any nearer agreeing on the
actual situation, with thousands of leg
men chasing about the country making
surveys and carrying out this edlct and
that, how can it be expected that other
than the present chaotic condition exists?
A fair sample of the governments
running in circles is seen in the poultry
and eggs situation at the moment. A few
months ago the boards wanted subsidies
so growers could sell more hens, and the
public was willing to pay the subsidy.
Now it is the other way. The same agen-
cies are urging increase in chicken pro-
duction. And to bring this about, say the
boards it is necessary to raise the ceiling
price, and are demanding just that. In
this connection, farmers are urged. right
now, to raise more chickens for their own
tables. Suits the farmers, but trifle late,
the way hens arrange their calendar. In
fact, about three months late.
Ell Centrans have reported seeing more
meat on markets in coast cities than at
home That could be, but few days ago
a coast newspaper printed picture OF
empty cattle pens at slaughter houses.
The war has affected the mechanics OF
food production and distribution, but it
hasn't touched the law of supply and de-
mand. But the government has tinkered
with this natural agency until even 1t IS
off the beam.
Let that law, which is as old as the
habit of eating, have sway and much OF
the trouble would fade. In fact, there
would be no trouble worth mentioning.