LAMB AND MUTTON

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1922, Page 8

LAMB AND MUTTON

A SHARP RISE

BUTCHERS MAKE PROTEST.

What is described as a phenomenal rise took place yesterday in the wholesale prices of mutton and lamb, and a special meeting of the Wellington Master Butchers' Association was .held last night to discuss the. situation.

It was reported that lamb , bad ad- ' vanced no less than 4d per lb, and mutton 2^d Ber lb, equivalent to 80 per cent. | and 75 per cent, respectively. Speakers expressed the opinion that the position was a- grave one to butchers, and of farreaching importance to the consuming public, occurring as it did coincident with Governmental proposals in the direction of salaries-reduction. The causes operating to, produce this serious state of affairs were fully dia-! cussed, and it was agreed that however advantageous the present position might be to growers, drastic action was necessary in the interest of, and for the protection of, the New Zealand consumer. At every advance in London parity, whether temporary or permanent, and from whatever cause, the New Zealand public was being seriously penalised, and it was felt that the Government should take steps to deal with the "present situation and commandeer' the necessary supplies for New Zeala.nd:in. connection with the meat pool scheme. The opinion was also expressed that behind the present phenomenal prices could be discerned the operations of the American Meat Trust. On the whole, master butchers were favourable to the Government's proposed meat pool scheme, but a strong resolution of protest was passed in connection witli the proposed subsidy to growers in connection therewith. It was finally decided tha-t butchers had no1 alternative but to readjust their retail prices in sympathy with the extraordinary prices at present paid by them for stock. This matter, however, is left in the hands of individual butchers to arrange for themselves.