BUTCHERS' MEAT

Evening Star, Issue 24483, 19 April 1943, Page 2

BUTCHERS' MEAT

ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF SUPPLY It was difficult to see where the butchers of Dunedin had a grievance relating to the prices they had to pay for meat other than pig meats, stated the Minister of Marketing (Hon. J. G. Barclay) during his week-end visit to the city. The retail price for meat in Dunedin at present was arranged on basic prices for different classes of meat, the Minister said. A wholesale firm operating in Dunedin was prepared to supply most meat fresh to retailers on grade at a lower price than the basic one. The only exception, Mr Barclay added, was for" ox beef, the price for which was id per- lb above the basic price. For ox and heifer beef, the basic price was 4d, and for cow -beef 3Jd. The price charged by the wholesale company of butchers was 4{d for ox and heifer beef, and 2Jd for cow beef. For lamb meat, the Minister said, the basic price was 7-Jd, and the company was offering to supply it fresh at 7£d and 6-Jd. For wether mutton the basic price was 5d per lb, and the company was offering tiiis meat fresh to butchers at 4Jd and -4|d. -For ewes the basic price was 4d per lb. and this meat was offered fresh at present for about 2d per lb. " From this it appears." the Minister added. " thr.t the" butchers have an alternative source of supply, and there is, therefore, no necessity for .them to purchase above the basic price at Burnside." , '