THE MEAT QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4497, 14 March 1917, Page 5

THE MEAT QUESTION.

PRICES COMPARED. MAYOR’S REPORT ON BOARD OF TRADE’S VISIT. At last night's meeting of the Borough Council, the Mayor, MrMV. G. Sherratt, submitted the following report on the visit here of the Board, of Trade: — . 1 “As arranged, 1 waited on the Board of Trade which met here on February 28, 1917, and after the matter of the price of meat in Gisborne had been discussed, an arrangement was arrived at between tlie Board: and the butchers whereby the Government supply meat from the Imperial hooks at the freezing works, at the prices set out hereunder, cash over the counter. It was also decided ' that the abattoirs should be closed down, and to this course the Minister for Agriculture agreed. There are several details that need adjustment prior to matters working smoothly, hut these will be met as they occur. I would ask that the Council delegate its powers under the Slaughtering and Inspections Act to the-freezing companies, whilst this agreement is in operation. It will also be necessary to arrange fees for the rise of the abattoirs if any are to be charged for any meat killed at the works on butchers’ account. The prices are not as low -as I should have liked but are the best that could be got under the circumstances, the Board not desiring to open Government shops in Gisborne, although I requested it to do so.” He moved accordingly. Or Miller seconded.

Or Hill remarked that he could not support the motion. Speaking as a consumer, he said the prices at the present time were very mixed up. The Mayor: The prices have nothing to do with delegating our .powers. O Bright thought that the matter could be adjourned until next meeting, and given further consideration. This was agreed to. The schedule oi prices, comparing old prices with new, was as under: BEEF.

At an earlier stage of the meeting, when an application for a butcher’s license ivas being considered, Or. Hill asked whether the applicant would be allowed to obtain his meat on the same terms as agreed upon by the butchers in business at present. _ The Mayor: That is a matter for the Board of Trade to consider. Or. Hill thought that the Council, in granting the license, should see that he got a fair deal in as much as he was able to obtain meat on the same terms as the others were doing. Surely the Council was not going u> grant a monopoly to the other butchers. He had read the agreement with the Board, of Trade. It did not. debar anyone from starting as a butcher, but it was difficult to know whether it applied to tlie new butcher to obtain stock. He bad heard it rumored in town that no butchei obtained a license could come into tlie agreement on the same terms. Tie wanted to know whether that was a fair and equitable arrangement. Tlie Mayor: Are vou blaming me. Cr. Hill: I am asking a fair ques--ICThe Mayor: Tlie Board of Trade decides that matter. Cr. Hill: Surely the Board ol Tradei cannot . ■ The Alayor remarked that lie had wired awav to the Board of Trade asking if the man could come in. Cr. Hill: On the same terms as the others ? The Mayor: ies. Cr. Hill: Thank you.

Old Per lb. JNew Per lb. s. d. s. d. Fillet Steak 1 2 1 2 Rump steak 1 1 1 0 Beef steak ... 0 10 0 9 Skirt steak 0 10 0 9 Sirloins 0 10 0 9 Whole top side ... 0 9J0 74 Prime ribs — 0 8' Wing ribs 0 9 0 9 Flank 0 9 0 84 Corned brisket boned and round 0 9 0 8 Gravy beef 0 8 0 6 Mince meat 0 9 0 7 Tripe 0 9 0 8 Sausages ... 0 7 0 6 Suet 0 9 0 6 Dripping 0 4 0 3 Shins and clods ... Shins and clods 0 4 0 3 (thick ends) 0 410 34 MUTTON. Old. New. Legs ... Sd 7*d Hindquarters ... 7d 7d Forequarters ... 6d 5)d Shoulders ... 7d 64d Neck and breast ... 5d 44 d Chop cutlets ... lid lid Short loin chops ... lOd lOd Other chops ... 9d gd Loin ... Sd 74 d Half loin best end 6[d Scl Sides 6d LAMB. Old. New. Each. Per lb. s. d. s. d. Forequarter 6 0 0. S Hindquarters 7 0 ' 0 9 Legs 4 6 0 10 Loins 3 0 0 9 Sides 3 0 0 84 SUNDRIES. Old. New. Each. Each. s. d. s. d. Ox tongues 3 3 (lb) 7 Ox hearts ... 0 9 1 0 Ox tails ••• ••• 1 3 1 0 Sheep kidneys 0 llr 0 14 Sheep fry 0 4 0 4 Sheep tongues 0 2 0 2 Sheep hearts — 0 2 Sausage meat — (lb) 5 Ox kidney — 0 9 Ox liver ... — 0 6 ■Sheep heads (no 0 3 | tongue) — Brains — 10