MEAT DELIVERIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 26 November 1941, Page 4

MEAT DELIVERIES

MAY CEASE IN CITY SHORTAGE OF YOUTHS PETROL RESTRICTIONS (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Owing to increasing difficulties over labour and the effect of the petrol restrictions, the Auckland master butchers are seriously considering whether they will not have to discontinue deliveries and sell over the counter only. The whole matter is to be discussed at a general meeting of their association next Monday night. A large proportion of the men formerly employed in delivering meat was now on war service, said a leading master butcher, and most of the youths were in the Territorials. Some employers considered that when the long training courses began next year, it would be almost impossible to continue deliveries. Boys were difficult to recruit for the class of work which required an early start on Saturday morning and a six-day working week. There was a wide choice of jobs with a fiveday week and boys went to them. Delivery Costs Heavy

The occupation was essentially one for the young and robust, and war requirements naturally made heavy inroads upon it. Delivery costs had been a heavw addition to the butchers’ overhead for a number of years. The informant said it was estimated that the average round cost something like £9 a week to maintain and no charge was made for the service. The addition of Id a pound for booking and or delivery, as specified in the price schedules, was rarely imposed in practice. Thus, the customer who purchased over the counter obtained no concession. Out of about 150 butchers’ shops in Auckland, some 20 were already doing cash-and-carry trade, and in Wellington the proportion was believed to be considerably larger. If a general agreement w'ere made to cease deliveries, it was possible that certain rounds would be retained to meet special circumstances. However, a charge for delivery would probably be made in such cases.