The Price of Meat.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 101, 1 May 1890, Page 2

The Price of Meat.

• PROPOSED CO-OPEKATIVE BUTCHERY. The meeting called for last evening to formulate a soheme for atarting n, cooperative butohery, on account of the heavy advance in the prioe of moat dooided on by the butchers of Wellington, was attendod by about 30 persona, and as considerable enthusiasm was shown, the Bohemo promises to soon develop into an aotual fact. By general wish Mr. F. Moeller, of the Occidental Hotel, occupied Jthn ohair. The Chairman, in mentioning the subject for discussion, gave it as his opinion thattbo butchers could give no sound reason for the unexpected advance. It was attributed to the rise in prioe of atook— said to be at leant 20 per cent.— but this argument, he might say, was oontradiotod by the loading breeders of stock in the Manawatn district. Only tbafc day ho was informed that the pricos brought at the Johnsonvilie sal* were lower than usual. The butchers advanced as another reason that hotolkeepers would have all the prime joints, and at a rate which left no margin for profit) and, further, that tho patronage of reataurantkeopora was not worth having. A. butcher had even gono to far as tn tell him that he would not mind if all tho hotel and rostau-rant-keepers left him. Tho co-operative system had been found to work woll elsewhere, but the difficulty they would experienoe wonld be to get the botelkeopers and reßtanrant-keepers to work with something like nnanimity. However, he presumed that Air Bodloy, who called the meeting, had given the matter some thought, and would ba better able to give thorn information. Bofore sitting down, Mr. Moeller said that tho hotelkeopera were .affected by the nbo quite as much, if not more than anyone, and he was convinced that any Bcherae snob as that proposed wonld meet with thoir hearty co-operation. Mr. 0. Bodloy was of opinion that the real objeot of the butohers was to put as much money into their pockets as was possible at the expense of the public He went on to say that it was not hiß desire to limit his proposal to merely hotel and restaurant keepers, bnt rather the other way; he wished for tho co-operation of all interested. Ho had already reoeived several communications, in whioh the writers regretted their inability to attend the meeting, bnt expressed tboir readiness to a<M*ist. He did not doubt that a wellorganised company would receive a large amount of support both from the oitizens and also from stockowners and brooders. The Boheme lie had in view was very similar to aQ co-operative societies, and in order that they should have something definite to work upon he suggested the formation of a oommittee selected from those present, who should be empowered to solicit the assistance of the public in the formation of a co-operative butchery. It might bo thought there were many difficulties, snoh as slaugh> tering, &c, but from inquiries he had made he found a site could be secured for a slaughterhouse very near the oity. A few earnest and energetio men were required for the oommittee, and be believed that under these conditions they could open a ghop within a fortnight. However, it was for the meeting to determine whether or not the scheme was a feasible one. Mr. Geo. Jones said the proposal was one he heartily approved of. Personally he had assisted in the promotion of the Cooperative 'Bns Company, and he favouted the Cooperative Butohftry, and also a Coal Company on a similar baeie if it were possible. He had no doubt of the success of a cooperative business if worked on sound principles, and as an illustration of this be submitted to the meeting the last balancesheet of the Hoyal Arsenal Company of Woolwich, which was worked on 00-operatiTe principles. The Chairman thought the matter would be fairly started if the mooting appointed a committee, who should report to another meeting a week hence. Mr. D. P. Lawlor, in speaking of the scheme, said that it undoubtedly was a wise one. The unexpected advance made by the bntchers affeoted working men anil householders as well as hotelkeepers and others. The advance was attributed to a rise in the price of stock, but yet in Cbristchurch where at the present time stock was selling at a considerable advance as compared with Wellington, meat was retailed at reasonable prices. After some further discussion the Chairman's suggestion in regard to the appointment of a committee was agreed to, and on the motion of Mr. Lawlor, seconded by Mr. G. Bodley, the following gentlemen were Beleoted :— Meisrs. A. Walker, F. Moeller, G. Bodley. D. E. Lawlor, A. Barlow, D. Doaly, W. F. Jenkins, £. Carrigan, and — Bowden. Several gentlemen who were proposed, declined to act, but said they would willingly take up shares in the proposed business. The committee were empowered to add to their cumber, and were requested to at once prepare a report, and present it at a meeting to be held the following Wednesday evening. Mr. Bodley offered the use of his rooms for the purpose, and was aooorded a Vote of thankg, and a similar oompliment having been passed to the chair the meeting terminated. At a committee meeting held subaequently Messrs. J. Orr, S. Gilmer, H. Gilmer, J. Condon, and H. Sullivan were added to the committee, who agreed to meet to-day for the purpose of electing a secretary, aud arranging preliminary business. THE CASE FOE THE BUTCHEES. TO THE EDITOR. Sir— Tho article in your editorial column last evening on tho meat question has evidently been written with less regard to facts than is usually the case with leading articles' from your pep In Ihe first place, meat has not been raised 50 per cent. Only certain portions of a body of beef havo been touched, comprising in all about one-third of the total weight of the carcase, the remaining two-thirds being offered to the public, as hitherto, at from Id to 3d per lb. The price of rnmp steaks and sirloins, as you remark, have been raised— the former 2d per lb, or 33 per cent., the latter from 5d to Cd, or 20 per cent. As the rougher cuts, such as chucks, blades, back ribs, briskets, clods, necks, shin's, and legs, are still obtainable at from one penny to twopence halfpenny per pound. It is therefore obvious that no such increase as 50 per cent., or even 20 per cent., has been imposed, $he hitter class of meat, as I previously asserted', comprising quite two-thirdß of the whole carcase. Mutton has oertainly been raised about 20 per Cent, all through, but if Jou «tudy the various ito'ok salwraeni

freckly roportu yon will, I think, almit that toe price for sheep lmi increaKod in a liko proportion, and that an increase in the retail price was abaolutoly nocessar.v to enablo tho retailer to pay hi« way. While On the subjoot I might mention that the public themselves, by insisting upon the butcher waiting upon them daily with men tthd carts, and asking Unreasonable credit instead of buying for cash, have done a great den.l towards compelling the retailers to make a rise in their prioep.— l am, Ac, A RETAIf. BUTCUJJU. |Bt Tki/Eobaph.l [UNITED VRBfIS ASSOCIATION. | CiiKiSTCHuncii, 30th April. The butchers to-night decided to raise the price of meat, in conooquence of the high prices ruling for fat stook.