RETAIL MEAT PRICES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27591, 23 February 1955, Page 12

RETAIL MEAT PRICES

COMMITTEE BEGINS INQUIRY

REPORT EXPECTED WITHIN SIX WEEKS (From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, February 22. The departmental committee appointed by the Government to inquire into retail meat prices began its investigations at Auckland yesterday. The Minister of Finance (Mr J. T. Watts) said in an interview this morning that it was expected that the deoartmental committee would be able to present its report to the Cabinet economic committee within four to six weeks.

The departmental committee consists of Messrs A. B. McLaughlan, of the Price Control Division, S. Greenberg, of the Department of Agriculture, and B. D. A. Greig, of the Treasury Department. Mr Watts said that the committee would also hold investigations at Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Arrangements had also been made for the committee to receive information on meat prices from provincial and other small towns. The work of the committee entails discussiors and investigations with all who are concerned in supplying meat to local consumers.

Mr Watts said that the purpose of the inquiry was to get at the facts so that the Government would be in a better position to decide what steps might be necessary or possible to assist the meat trade toward improvements which the Government hoped would result in lower prices to consumers.

The Minister concluded by saying it would be most unwise to say anything in advance of the committee’s findings.