DEARER MEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 193, 17 August 1939, Page 12

DEARER MEAT.

WHOLESALE MARKET.

BUTCHERS HARD HIT.

"PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE"

'"With fat stock prices at their present levels, we butchers are paying through the nose," said a leading member of the trade to-day. On the West Held market yesterday butchers from the city had difficulty in obtaining their supplies for the week, and bidding was so keen that beef and mutton prices rose to record levels for the month of August. The seasonal shortage of fat stock had come with a vengeance. Kat bullocks were selling up to £18 M head, compared with last week's top price of £10. Up to this month quotations seldom exceeded £14 10/ a head for bullocks, while yesterday the best of the cows and heifers made 5/ more than that. The rise in mutton was not 'piito so drastic, but was aufficient, according to butchers, to eliminate their margin of profit on present retail rates. Rise in Retail Rates? At the *ale yesterday the general opinion v.Uo that the rise would have to be passed on to tlie public, as most butchers said that they would be working at a loss on present rates. The owner of one suburban shop said that lie would probably lose about £50 on the stock he had bought at the sale to. supply him for the week.

This morning, however, a leading butcher said that it had generally been considered on later discussion that high prices at a single sale were not sufficient to act upon. It wan hoped that larger offerings, of fat stock would come forward at next Wednesday's sale, and that butchers would then be able to buy at more reasonable rates. A meeting of the Master Butchers' Association will be held next Tuesday to consider the situation, but it is generally anticipated that 110 cliaugo will be made in retail ratos until it is seen whether the peak price* ruling on the wholesale market will continue.