PRICE DISPUTE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 294, 11 December 1943, Page 6

PRICE DISPUTE

BUTCHERS INCENSED

STRUGGLE TO CARRY ON

"The butchers are well aware of the limit prices they can afford to pay in order to sell at the maximum prescribed in the Government's Price Order, but they have to think of the effect it would have on their business if they refrained from selling any beef, their biggest line," said Mr. G. F. Lane, vice-president of the New Zealand Master Butchers' Association to-day, in commenting on the Minister's attitude regarding beef sales.

Not only would the question of overhead expenses arise, but there would be the public reaction and its effect upon future trade, added Mr. Lane. The Minister did not mention that in response to the retail butchers' appeal for relief or assistance he had not only refused to grant relief, but had increased the butchers difficulties tremendously by altering the conditions on which the Price Order was based, to their great disadvantage.

A deputation which waited upon the Minister on October 8 pointed out how the introduction of grading would add still further to the extreme hardships of retail butchers and would make it impossible for some to carrv on.

Following this deputation and a meeting held between a small committee of butchers and the Stabilisation Commissioner in the afternoon of the same day, it was announced later that grading would be postponed indefinitely.

"Is there any wonder," asks Mr. Lane, "that the butchers are desperate when the Minister, in spite of the fact that the butchers continue to pay far more than the equivalent basic Avholesale price, including the seasonal allowances, for beef customarily described as 'prime quality,' introduces grading on the date originally set, November 15, and thereby restricts the beef, to which the maximum prices are applicable, to first grade ox and heifer?"