PRICE OF MEAT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8923, 8 September 1905, Page 5

PRICE OF MEAT.

IS THE INCREASE JUSTIFIABLE?

DISCUSSION BY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

rh« recent rise in the price of meat- hasbeen a topic of discussion amonget housekeepers, and at the Borough Council meeting on Wednesday evening Cr Sargeson said he thought consumers, had a right toknow whether the butchers had been put to any extra expense worth taking into account. He wished it understood that lie was not enquiring into the matter through personal motives, but he thought. Uie increase in the price of meat was unwa/rranted. He considered that it was due 'to the public to know the cause, if any, for t.he increase. The retailers of beef and mutton stated that the Tise is due to the increase in the scale of charges af the abattoir, but Or Sargeson endeavored to show this statement to be fallacious by pointing out that the abattoir charges were only one-ninth of a penny per Ib, reckoning the average bullock at 7001bB and working on the present (the increased) scalo of charges.

The following table will show what, the slaughtering charges were before the increase and what they aTe at present (tho latter being given in parentheses) : — Cattle, 5s (6s); pigs, 2a (2e 6d); calvofl, 9d (Is 3cl) ; monthly rent of the 4A acre paddocks, £2 (£3).

Cr Hardley remarked that the charges here were nearly double the Wanganui charges.

The Mayor said that at Wanganui "the meat was killed at the Freezing Works, and consequently the changes were low, bub the Hawera charges compared favorably with the cliarges in any other place in the colony where there were abattoirs, and any rather heavy charges were due to the extra expense incurred by the Council" in procuring the land. He further remarked that the Council had to make the abbattoir pay interest and sinking-fund, and the fees might therefore be a Tittle in advance, of the charges in other places along the Coast.

UTILISING THE BLOOD

While matters in connection with the abattoir were still before the Council Or, Goodson said he would like to bring forward a suggestion! as to make some" good' use of the waste blood from the animals killed. " -!

He said that here the blood was directed into a drain and allowed to run into the sea, while at the Stratford abattoir the blood was secured and converted intomanure, and sold at a payable figure. He moved, That the Abattoir Committee be asked to go thoroughly into the matter, and report to tho Council at the nex'.. ■meeting.

Cr Sargeson said that as far as hia memory served him provision for this had been made but was deleted from the contract.'

The Mayor said that that was co, and explained that the provision had been deleted upon, the advice of the inspector, who argued that the blood might create a nuisance if kept about the premises. The Mayor, in conclusion, said that in these days of commeroial competition nothing should bo allowed io go to -waste*. - The motion was seconded by Cr Cameron and carried.

At the quartely meeting of the Waxrau Licensing Committee, the license of a hotels at Picton was cancelled, because the owner had failed to effect repairs ordered at "the annual meeting, but the cancellation wae suspended so that the owner may have another opportunity. "~