MEAT AND BUTTER PRICES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 25 May 1917, Page 5

MEAT AND BUTTER PRICES.

FALL NOT LIKELY

The shortage of ships for the export of frozen i)roduce and the consequent congestion in the cool stores has prompted an inquiry in Auckland as to the possibility of a reduction'in the retail prices of meat and butter in the Dominion in. the near future. The point, so far as it affects meat, was referred to a number of Auckland butchers, but they stated that they were unable to express any definite opinion on the subject. "You had better ask the Board of Trade; they would know more about these things than we do " was the reply that was received. One butcher said that as this was the slack portion of the year the accumulations of meat in the stores would not greatly increase during the nest few months, and that it was expected that sufficient ships to relieve the congestion would be available before the next season opened He added that as yet there /as no prospect of any material reduction in the local retail prices In regard to butter, it has been stated by Mr H. E. Pa«jy, managing director of the New Zealand Dairy Association, that in view of the London market rates, he did not anticipate any fall m the local retail price. In reply to a question, he stated that his opinion had not altered since he made his previous statement. p