CHEAPER MEAT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2988, 27 January 1917, Page 12

CHEAPER MEAT

BOARD OF TRADE'S SCHEME

MEETING A SHORTAGE OF

SUPPLIES

The retail sale,of meat provided by tho Government from the stocks in tho freezing works is proceeding smoothly in Auckland ,according to reports that have reached tho Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, Acting-President of tho Board of Trade. The two shops opened under the direction of tho Board are doing big business, and it is apparent that the Auckland publio appreciates tho opportunity to buy meat at reduced rates. The trade is being conducted upon a cash basis, and thero is no delivery at present. In the. meantime* the Board of Trade's original offer to tho Master Butchers' Association is still open. The members of tho association can have meat from tho freezing works at Imperial rates, provided they will undertake to refrain from increasing tho retail prices above Stir rates regarded as reasonable by the Board.

"We are willing to supply meat from the freezing works at any centre where there is a shortage of supplies," said Mr. Mac Donald, in answer to a question regarding the ' extension of the scheme. "Wo have not made definite arrangements for supply elsewhere than in Auckland, but the Board of Trade has in hand some complaints from other quarters, and something may be dono presently. Tlie sole condition attached to the supply of meat from the works to the retailers, through the Board, is that the retail prices do not exceed reasonable levels. If high prices are caused by shortage of supplies, as represented to the Government, then we are prepared to provide adequate supplies at the prices paid by the Imperial authorities for New Zealand meat."

The Minister added that tlie Government did not wish to interfere with the business of any man, and it would not willingly enter into competition with any section of retail butchers. But the prices of meat in sonie centres had gone too high, and so the Board of Trade was simply offering the retailers a remedy in the form of an adequate wholesale supply of .good meat at prices that would permit of reasonable retail charges.