Butchers’ Objections To Price Control

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29162, 24 March 1960, Page 10

Butchers’ Objections To Price Control

(Hew Zealand Press Association)

BLENHEIM, March 23. The Meat Retailers’ Federation, holding its annual conference at the Portage in Marlborough Sounds, devoted the whole of its session yesterday to a discussion of the recently introduced control of retail meat prices. Representatives from all districts expressed strong dissatisfaction with the position. Further discussion of the subject I was listed for today. The conference sent a telegram ’ to the Minister of Finance (Mr i Nordmeyer) who was speaking in . Blenheim last night, inviting him . to visit the Portage today and ; discuss price control with the i trade. The Minister has declined how- • ever on the grounds that he is already committeed to a tight itinerary. It was stated by a member of s Mr Nordmeyer’s party that price s control was the concern of the ’ Minister for Industries and Comt merce and that if Mr Norjjmeyer ! were to discuss the subject, with ’ the meat trade he would be tres--1 passing in another Minister's ’ province. The supplied report of yesterday's proceedings said that the many anomalies brought about by i the recently introduced recontrol i of retail meat prices were dis- ' cussed and strong dissatisfaction ■ with the price order was expressed

by representatives from all districts. “The policy of the Government was under fire from all quarters and the conference endorsed its desire to send a deputation to wait on the Prime Ministers after the conference concludes,” said the statement. “A telegram was despatched • from the conference inviting Mr • Nordmeyer to visit the Portage ■ today to discuss the subject with t the trade. “The members were particularly 1 anxious to discuss this sybject with Mr Nordmeyer as he was re--1 ported to have made some damag- ? ing accusations against the trade • during his visit to Christchurch s a few weeks ago. “The meat retailers are of the j opinion that these accusations are t based on an incorrect and most unrealistic assessment of retail f recoveries. B “One of the major concerns of B the trade is the fact that for . the last few years it has been r faced with changing trends which i have necessitated modernisation . of shops and equipment. s “Under price control members fear that they will riot have the - incentive or the resources to e complete this modernisation proV gramme. The trade confirmed its 1 previous belief that the consumer - will not benefit in any way as a i result of price control.” 1 A spokesman for the trade said in a telephone conversation from : the Portage today that the members were genuinely concerned about the over-all effects of price j control but one aspect worthy of mention dealt with the future of . businesses which did not have j the volume of turnover to enable s them to continue under price conr trol. They would definitely not be able to continue.