PROTEST AGAINST MEAT PRICES

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24094, 2 November 1943, Page 6

PROTEST AGAINST MEAT PRICES

BUTCHER CLOSES SHOP FAILURE TO STABILISE RETAIL TRADE As a protest against “the Government’s failure to stabilise the retail meat trade,” Mr F. J. Tentori, whose butcher’s shop is at the Fendalton tram terminus, has decided to close down his business temporarily from next Saturday. Mr Tentori has sent a circular to his customers in which he explains the reason for his action, and last evening he made a statement to “The Press” on his views about the current prices for meat at local markets.

“My decision has been made as a protest against the ridiculous prices ruling in the Addington market for fat stock and also against the failure of the Government, after two years ol negotiation with the full views of the farmers, butchers, and auctioneers before it, to stabilise the retail meat trade. They made a poor start when they commenced at the wrong end. Instead of attacking the position from the source of supply they began by enforcing retail meat prices.” Mr Tentori said.

“Beef prices at Addington in the last few weeks have been under-quoted in the newspaper reports by at least 10s per 1001b for good quality beef. Last week good beef made £4 5s to £4 10s, with tops a shade higher. Beel on the hoof,at £4 5s per 1001b equals 102s per 1001b when 20 per cent, of the carcase weight is deducted for waste, fat, and bone,” Mr Tentori contended. A rebate of 2s 6d per 1001b on the hide after the payment of killing expenses, meant that oeef ready for the scale would cost £5 per 1001b. If no action- was taken, butchers would have no choice but to increase their prices by 4d per lb to cover their costs and obtain some profit. That would make beef 6d to 7d per lb dearer than provided for in the retail price order, thus forcing up the cost of living. Many butchers were now charging an average of 2Jd per lb above the price order, but no legal action had been taken, thereby confirming the butchers’ action. “The Government is not helping the trade by taking a big cut on the sale of hides and skins and £6 10s a ton on tallow —all of which rightly belongs to the butcher and would help him over the stile,” said Mr Tentori. The position of the trade to-day was the bigger the turnover the greater the loss. The position would not improve until January, and there would be a tendency for it -to become worse towards the end of the year because of the feed and weather conditions, he said.

The rationing of beef by the butchers themselves had automatically forced the mutton market up to prices well above a profitable basis for the butcher. The local butcher did not want an increase in retail prices, but conditions under which he could purchase his meat at rates which would enable him to charge reasonable prices to the consumer and also obtain decent living for himself. Mr Tentori produced his bill of sale for last Addington market in which two steers and 18 wethers cost him a total of £9B 16s 4d.

One solution appeared to be the aljocation of stock to the butchers from the market charged at a price fixed per 1001b on the hoof at the abattoir, with stock firms as agents for the vendor, Mr Tentori said.