MEAT PRICES

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 57, 5 September 1945, Page 9

MEAT PRICES

BUTCHERS'SUBMISSIONS

The Price Tribunal was examining the case that had been presented through the New Zealand Master • Butchers' Association for /"gher margins covering increased costs, but further trading accounts had yet to be submitted, after which final consideration would be given to the matter, stated the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr. Sullivan) m the House of Representatives yesterday, . replying to an urgent question by Mr A. J. Murdoch (National, Marsden). Mr. Murdoch, with whom ■ was associated Mr. S. w.> Smith (National, Bay of Islands) and Mr. T. . G-.Webb .(National, Kaipara), referred " to a meeting held by butchers in Whangafei,,, at which they decided to seek an immediate review of beef and mutton prices, '-v f , , Mr. Sullivan addeU ,|.hat meanwhile the high prices being paii ; by butchers at auction sales were due to" the com- - oetitive auction system which butchers i were not willing to abandon. He "was advised by the Minister of Marketing that there were ample, supplies of frozen beef and mutton at the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's Moerewa works and that those were available for the retail trade in the present difficult supply position. He was further advised that the prices that would be charged would be the Marketings Department Export Divi- . sion f.o.b. purchase prices, plus a charge for any-special services. There should be no difficulty or loss therefore in retail butchers supplying beef and mutton at the authorised prices at the present time.