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Show AAA Committeemen Defend Stockmen in Meat Shortage Vindicating stockmen of any re-; sponsibility for the "run on the butcher shop," J. Vern Hopkin of Woodruff, member of the Utah State AAA committee in charge of range. Thursday gave three reasons for the meat shortages which have developed. Lend-lease shipments, Increased civilian demand and the added amount which men in the service eat more than they did in civilian life account for much of the "tight" meat situation, the com- mitfoomnn RCitH. 5meat.' In civilian life he ate an average of around 3 pounds oi meat, poultry and fish weekly. In the army he eats' an average of pounds. Approximately 25 percent per-cent of the total meat production in the United States is going to meet requirements of the armed forces and shipments to England. Russia and other allied nations. To clear stockmen of any blame, Mr. Hopkin pointed out that the numbers of cattle on farms and ranches of the country total around 74 million head 3 million The normal supply of meat from Australia and New Zealand has been cut off and the United States is furnishing large amounts to England and Russia. Successful means of dehydration have speeded speed-ed up shipments to these .countries. .coun-tries. But this meat is helping them hold out against the Nazis, Mr. Hopkin pointed out. ! A national income which is ex-i ex-i pec ted to reach 115 billion dollars I instead of 75 or 80 billions is giving giv-ing the American housewife more money with which to buy T-bones. People are working harder and the y are eating more meat, He ad-dot ad-dot Johnny Doughboy accounts foi if t.hp increased demand for more than at this same time last year. There are 7 million more hogs than a year ago. The number of sheep is also greater than a year ago. Farmers are not holding back for higher prices, said Mr. Hopkin Hop-kin since shipping records show that shipments are substantially greater than last year and even greater than increases in livestock numbers. "All the stockmen I know, here in Utah, are willing to do all they can to meet the increased demand tor meat but feel that those who have blamed them for meat shortages short-ages have been unfair. Increased demand and not the selfishness of stockmen is responsible for the meat situation," he declared. |