Meat Retailers To Test Price Order

Press, Volume C, Issue 29534, 8 June 1961, Page 10

Meat Retailers To Test Price Order

Twenty-two charges against six city meat retailers were adjourned until June 21 by Mr A. P. Blair, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday after he had heard submissions by Mr R. A. Young, who appeared for five of the retailers. The Canterbury Meat Retailers’ Association had decided to test the validity of the price order to which the charges related, said Mr Young. He asked that the charges be adjourned, on the ground that there was a considerable amount of work to be done before the matter came before the Supreme Court. Nineteen of the charges allege that goods were offered for sale not in conformity with a price order, three allege failure to show the price of meat on sale, and one alleges that meat was exposed

for sale without a price ticket. The five retailers represen'ed by Mr Young are the Drapery and General Importing Company. Ltd., Coleman's Cash Butchery, Ltd.. Hibbard's Butcheries. Ltd.. William George Martin, and Ernest McEwan. The sixth retailer charged is Russell Thomas Walkkn. who was represented by Mr A. Hearn. Mr Hearn said that he agreed with Mr Young, and asked that the charge against his client also be adjourned to June 21. Mr J. G. Hutchison, who appeared for the Department at Industries and Commerce, which has brought the charges, said that he was ready to proceed and had not been instructed to consent to an adjournment. “The matter is of considerable public interest and importance." said Mr Hutchison.