NEW CHEESE ORDER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 256, 29 October 1942, Page 6

NEW CHEESE ORDER

EFFECT ON GROCERS

REDUCED RETAIL MARGIN

Disappointment with the Puce Tribunal's action in limiting the retail margin on mild cheddar cheese, under its price order just issued, to atxmt 2Jd a pound was expressed this morning by the secretary of the New Zealand Master Grocers' Federation, who said trial the order announced last week nxes such a narrow margin that it wiu prevent many grocers from selling cheese which is less than f°ur months old. Loss of weight through moisture and crumbling and handling charges could not be covered on the basis laid down by the Tribunal, he stated. , , Another effect of the order, explained Mr. Barker, was to compel grocers to keep records showing the date of delivery of cheese at their shops by wholesale distributors, and certain particulars relating to retail sales. This was regarded as an unnecessary and burdensome imposition at a time when all grocers were labouring under staff shortages and were involved in much extra recording work due to rationing. Representation to this effect was made to the tribunal before the issue of the order.

In the past the margin had been about a penny greater than the amount allowed by the tribunal, said Mr. Barker. The quantity of cheese under four months old sold to the public would be considerably less than half the total sales, but there were many people who preferred it mild. If the order prevented the grocer from selling cheese subject to the order, the effect would be that the public would have to buy it more seasoned and pay a higher price.