MEAT RATIONING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 122, 18 February 1944, Page 4

MEAT RATIONING

Butchers Disinclined To Comment SOME POINTS MADE Wellington butchers generally were disinclined to comment freely on- the meat rationing scheme yesterday. They pointed out that full details were not yet known, and their attitude might, be summed up as: “Let's give it a trial and see how it works.” Some points made, however, were: —- The scheme is expected to cut 'butchers’ turnover by more than 25 per cent. One man said that in his opinion some butchers might not be able to do sufficient business to carry on. Another, on the other hand, said that turnover was not everything. “For three months last year,” he said, “thgp more beef we turned over the more money we lost.”

In spite of reduced turnover, labour is expected to be increased as a result of having to cut smaller joints and handle coupons. Some butchers were worried about the difficulty of keeping coupons clean and decipherable in view of the nature of their work. The 2-Jlib. of meat a week mentioned by the Minister in announcing the scheme was a theoretical average, it was stated. Cheaper outs might not always be available, as butchers had to dispose of the whole carcase. Other cuts contained a fairly large proportion of bone and gristle. One man contended that rationing would work more easily if it were based, as in Australia, on weight rather than value. Housewives may'not expect to Obtain much relief by turning to edible offals, excluded from the rationing scheme, because these are already in very short supply. Large joints will be virtually a thing of the past. One butcher announced his intention of cutting almost all ribs of beef into thick steaks, which would be within the coupon economy of the average household. Such steaks, he said, could be roasted if the family wished, or could be cooked in the other usual ways. . The public generally is taking the introduction of rationing philosophically most concern probably being shown for the welfare of cats and dogs, details of the provision made for which have not yet been announced.