THE MEAT COMMANDEER

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4962, 31 August 1918, Page 6

THE MEAT COMMANDEER

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Would Mr H. D. deLautour explain what ho meant in his . letter when he said “Some of our farmers wan their pound of flesh from the corpses of the gallant British soldiers who died that these same farmers might live in peace and confort.” He further says the object is to get the last farthing out of th e consumer, that is the widows and orphans of our gallant soldiers. Now, Sir. 1 think statements such as these require some qualification. I have followed this matter up from the start and. as far as I can make out, it is he and his clique that want to allow the exploitation of the widow's and children of our soliders by allowing the retail butcher at Home to continue charging just what price he likes for our meat. How can these people (for whom Mr deLautour is so sympathetic.) afford to pay Is 6d to 2s per Jb for meat? Why don’t he try to stop this and see that they get it at a reasonable price? This is what Mr Lysnar is out for; lie is not asking for any increase in the price of our meat. His object is to see that the British consumer is not exploited as he ijr at present. All that rot about the pound of flesh and the last farthing being got out of the consumer is so much twaddle. The attack on Mr Lysnar reminds me of Gulliver when he was attacked by the pigmies on the Island of Lilliput. He stood head and shoulders above any of those who showed their personal animus against him at the meeting and so far not one of them have been able to contradict any of his figures or the statements lie'has made. —I am, yours etc ARGUS.