DRASTIC CUT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 40, 17 February 1944, Page 6

DRASTIC CUT

BLOW TO BUTCHERS

RATIONING EFFECTS

"Much more drastic than we expected." This sums up the impression of the meat ration gained from a representative selection of master butchers who gave their views this morning. Most guesses concerning the monetary value per week for each person had ranged from 2/6 to 3/, and not one believed that the amount would fall below 2/. One of the chief effects of the ration will be to penalise manual workers, in the opinion of the man-, ager of a leading firm of chain butchers. These workers normally consume much more meat than those in occupations which, physically, are less strenuous, and moreover they have less access to "fancy foods." Evidently, he said, the Government had based its ration on "average consumption," but included in that assessment were a growing body of vegetarians. These people, who on the whole were not in the manual worker class, would probably hand over their coupons to people who would feel the effects of rationing less severely than the manual workers. "It seems very likely that many butchers will have to go out of business." was the remark of another member of the trade. He pointed out that the existing fixed retail prices were based on normal expenses and turnover. With that turnover reduced from 33 1-3 to 50 per cent, many of the smaller butchers would the utmost difficulty in carrying on. They would be unable to save costs by reducing staff because under rationing extra care would be needed in making cuts and preparing smaller joints, to say nothing of the time wasted, in cutting coupons and making lengthy explanations to customers.

Australian Comparison Although the average amount per person weekly in Australia was estimated at 2ilb, compared with 2ilb in New Zealand, he considered the consumers were better off across the Tasman. For one thing no coupons were required for cooked meats such as corned beef, ham loaves, etc. Then again, while catering establishments there had received a reduction in meat supplied equivalent to that imposed on the individual, the customers were not obliged to surrender coupons. It was thus possible for the breadwinner to get a meat meal in the city on six days a week. If that were done in New Zealand under the rationing scheme, it would mean that he would have only 3d in coupons left at the end of the week to contribute to the week-end joint. There is already a shortage in small goods, such as liver, brains, kidneys and tripe, which are not the subject of rationing, and butchers anticipate an enormous increase in the demand which they will be quite unable to satisfy. Since fewer carcases will be killed for the retail trade, by the same token fewer small goods . will be available. As one butcher put it: "A beast has only one ox tail or one pair of kidneys." Bacon, although not obtainable by coupons, is rationed, and the demand for this product is such that no large increase can be provided for. Childless married couples and single people will be hardest hit, according to the general opinion in the trade, though it is agreed that boys from seven years of age onwards often eat as much meat as any adult. Most married couples spend from 7/ to 10/ a week on meat, and both their coupons will now purchase only 3/6 worth of meat a week. It seems that the cheaper meats are bound to be sold first, and butchers may find difficulty in disposing of dearer cuts. The trade agrec-s that it will have to be guided by experience, but no easy way out is indicated. Another point mentioned is the extra demand from furlough men, and it is hoped that coupons will be issued to them by the authorities so that civilian consumption will not be further depleted.