THE COST OF BEEF
NO MARGIN FOR PROFIT
P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, September 15,
The increasing price of fat cattle throughout the winter (which reached its culminating point at last Wednesday's Addington- sale) in relation to the retail prices for beef fixed by ; the Price Tribunal was discussed by a meeting of butchers at the Addington saleyards today, attended by all the butchers (more than 100) represented at the sale.
"Discussions have been in progress between the Association of Christchurch Master Butchers and the Government and other interests for a considerable time in an endeavour to keep the wholesale prices at the parity level on which the retail price is set," said the association's secretary, Mr. G« W. Sim.
The meeting unanimously, agreed to adhere to the terms of a telegram sent to the Government on September 9 as follows: "Unless the Government establishes a South Island wholesale meat price order before September 14 the trade will be forced to disregard the retail price order. Failing immediate action, it is intended to issue a statement on the position to the Press."
After the meeting, Mr. Sim, on behalf of the association, issued the following statement: "The trade has done all in its power to hold the retail price of beef at the stabilised price, but with the failure of the Government to stabilise the wholesale buying price the position has become so acute that butchers are today paying £10, and in cases more, a head for beef than the retail prices will permit. The butchers have no alternative but to raise the retail pricel in line with the wholesale markets to carry on, or, as was strongly agitated at the meeting today, to close down. "Notification was received from the Government on Tuesday that frozen beef would be made available as from yesterday (Tuesday), but in view of the public dislike of this class of meat, unless the Government publicly makes it imperative that consumers ask for frozen meat, this relief be of yertf little use." , / •
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19430916.2.34
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1943, Page 4
Word Count
334THE COST OF BEEF Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1943, Page 4
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