U.K. Butchers’ Problems

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30592, 7 November 1964, Page 10

U.K. Butchers’ Problems

jgRITISH butchers would rather sell larger quantities of meat at reasonably steady prices than small amounts of dearer meat, according to a report of the presidential address of Mr K. N. H. Clements to the National Federation of Meat Traders’ Assosciations of Britain meeting at their annual conference at Brighton, forwarded by Mr Stanley J. Stevens, of the Isle of Wight, who formerly had a butcher’s shop in Colombo street, Christchurch. “The long term prosperity of the industry depends on high levels of consumption per head,” said Mr Clements, “not in making meat a luxury, for the less meat sold the higher one has to price it in order to make a living.” There appeared, he said, to be a general tendency for people to spend a diminishing share of their rising incomes on food. In addition more of what they did spend went on preparation, packaging and other services. In the case of meat this had meant more boning and trimming. Since 1957 the rise in meat prices had been less than for most other foods. Far from pricing itself out of the market, meat had been rather under-priced. “The higher prices forced upon us this year may correct the relationship, but we would rather be

selling larger quantities at reasonably steady prices than smaller amounts of dearer meat.” With the political views that were abroad it was clear to him that meat prices would not come down to past levels and it would take all their wits to keep them at present levels. Mr Clements said that a pound of stewing steak, 20 cigarettes or a large Scotch all cost about the same. Good quality meat was cheap when compared with other commodities. “In snite of supply difficulties, in spite of competition in the world market and the fact that we will have to face up to paying world prices, it is true that at the moment the British housewife can still buy meat cheaper than almost anywhere else in Europe.” Butchers wanted to keep it that way and that was why they resented interference in marketing which could only mean still more expensive meat.

Mr Clements said that the federation during the past year had been occupied with world-wide supply problems to an extent never before equalled. The former Minister of Agriculture, Mr C. Soames, had said at their last annual conference that he sought to “manage” the meat trade. “That turned out

to be the feminine singular—in other words ‘mismanage,’” said Mr Clements. “This was something quite new to us and we did not like it. At the same time people came to this country in search of livestock and meat to export on an unprecedented scale and again we did not like it.”

It had transpired that in spite of having to accept that the Argentine was unable to send more beef to Britain because she did not have it to send, figures proved that Argentina had supplied more than usual to the Continent. Argentine beef exports to the United' Kingdom in the first half of this year were down by more than half, yet at the same time France, Italy, West Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium all bought more than last year. The federation had before it the views of the three main political parties in Britain on the future of meat marketing, and Mr Clements commented that “whichever party gains power there will be some form of control or management. With imports controlled, the producers free to do as they like, and the exporting boys able to come and go as they please, it is a sort of three-legged race. And when it comes to the meat retailer it is more like a sack race, and believe me if it goes on much more there are many of us that will get the sack.”