LOWER MEAT PRICES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 6

LOWER MEAT PRICES

FLUSH ACCENTUATED BY .FEED SHORTAGE Christchurch housewives are now receiving the benefit of the seasonal fall in prices of lamb and mutton. At this time of the year, farmers sell stock they cannot carry over the winter months, and this year the flush has been accentuated by the shortage of feed brought about by the long spell of dry weather. Another factor is the relatively low prices farmers are receiving for ewes.In most Christchurch shops, but not all of them, the price of lamb forequarters has been reduced, in the last two or three weeks, from 2s to Is 9d per lb. and legs from 3s to 2s 9d per lb. There has been a slight drop jin mutton and pork prices. The president of the . Canterbury Master Butchers’ Association (Mr F. E. Coleby) said the retail prices varied according to the quality of the product and the attitude of the individual butcher. There was no controlled price on meat. The manager of another leading butchery said that, as a rule, the prices stayed down for some time, until the shortage of stock in winter brought them up again. Some butchers take advantage of the present low prices to buy sheep, freeze them, and sell them during the periods of comparative shortage at reasonable prices. • .