PRICES KILL TRADE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27, 2 February 1915, Page 6

PRICES KILL TRADE

ANOTHER BUTCHER CLOSES. The following notice appeared to-day on the window of a butcher's shop in Tory-street :— "This business will be closed for two months, on account of the high prices of meat. Thanking my many customers for past support, etc. It is understood that the retail butchers have lately had more than one interview with wholesale suppliers, with a view to securing a reduction in wholesale prices, but that no concession —of a size to be transferable to the public — is ih prospect. Meanwhile the high prices in the local market are cutting off their own trade, as -the above notice, and many, other similar cases, prove. "My business," said one butcher, "has declined from five bodies to two* and-a-half bodies a week. I don't know how long I shall be here to do business. "The week-day trade has fallen right away. Certainly, there is a good Saturday trade, but tliat is because, like at Home, meat now makes its principal appearance at the Sunday dinner. "That customer that just went out usually buys a Bhoulder. Tlu's morning she bought half a shoulder. And so it is in many cases. Meat must be bought for the worker and bread-winner, but on week-days the children don't get it. "The man who canvasses for orders for the annual almanac has just been round. The rule is for the butcher to pay a deposit, and he is in due course provided with a supply of almanacs to give to his customers, t told the canvasser that I could not give him an order because I did not know how long I would bo in business. He said it was the same all round, and that ho had not yet booked one order in tho butchering trade. He seemed inclined to supply without a deposit, and to forego the charge in case of tradesmen going out of business, but I will not enter into any arrangement like that. "Honestly, I don t know how long I will be here. While I can pay my way 1 will continue, but I am not going to ask for credit.''