DEAR MEAT AND BUTTER

Evening Star, Issue 16547, 5 October 1917, Page 3

DEAR MEAT AND BUTTER

COMPLAINT IN PARLIAMENT.. , PROMISE MADE TO SELL FROZEN > MEAT IN CENTRES. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 5. The Cost of Living, which promises to he a subject of lively debate before the session closes, was mentioned in the House yesterday afternoon, several members urging the/Prime Minister to consider tlie Question, and, if possible, to make -some turlher movement towards reducing the high cost of meat, butter, and other commodities. Mr Massey replied that he was looking to get some valuable suggestions from the Parliamentary Cost of Living Committee on the matter. He added that the Government had not finished with the subject, and that some proposals were under consideration. One of the difficulties in regard to meat was that for some reason the New Zealand public did not like frozen meat, and preferred to pay Id or 2d per lb more for fresh meat. He could not understand this prejudice. Personally, his preference would be for frozen meat. He proposed to submit recommendations to Cabinet by which the people in each of the larger centres would have the opportunity of buying frozen meat over the counter for cash at tho samo price as it was sold to tho Imperial Government. (Hear, hear.) Butter was a more difficult proposition, but ho hoped to be able to make a proposal to overcome the difficulty to some extent. An Hon. Member: What about tho country districts? Mr Massey said he thought it would he better to first try the scheme in the larger centres. Mr Ell asked if it could be arranged to let people have meat recently placed in store, so as to avoid the extra burden of accumulated charges. Mr Massey said he thought it would bo possible to do so. Ho would make inquiries.