NOT BEEF EATERS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2642, 10 May 1923, Page 5

NOT BEEF EATERS.

IS THERE PROFITEERING? CRITICISM OF PRICES IN CANTERBURY. e BOARD OF TRADE INVOKED. [Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHUPvCH, Last Night. The Meat Producers' Board, in a circular letter, asked for the co-opera-tion of the Canterbury A. and P. Association in its "eat more beef" campaign. The letter was discussed at a meeting of the general committee of the Association. The chairman (Mr R. E. Alexander) remarked that if the general public got beef at a price proportionate to that at which the butchers bought it, there would be little need for a campaign. Beef, though being bought at certain rates at the yards, was just as dear as ever to the consumer. If the Board was going to control prices for export, why should it not control prices in the Dominion and so encourage consumers to eat beef? Mr H. S. S. Kyle asked if that should not be done by the Board of Trade.

The chairman said he did not think that the attention of that Board had been called to.the matter. It was a very serious matter to the producers of the Dominion.

.Mr K. J. S. Murchison said that there was a body in Christchurch enquiring at present as to the cost of landing mutton and beef into butchers' shops, the idea being to test if the butchers were putting the prices too high.

The chairman remarked that the butchers were buying beef and selling at disproportionate prices. It was decided to write to the Board of Trade, drawing attention to the disparity between the buying and soiling price of beef, wholesale and retail.