CHEAP MEAT SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21258, 11 August 1932, Page 10

CHEAP MEAT SUPPLIES

LOCAL BODY DISTRIBUTION OPPOSITION TO SCHEME UNFAIR TO THE BUTCHERS The scheme to provide relief workers with cheap meat by distributing supplies from local body offices was severely criticised at a meeting of the One Treo Hill Borough Council last evening. The council passed a resolution strongly disapproving of tho proposal. The clerk, Mr. A. Lcese, reported that at a meeting of local body representatives nn August 4 it had been proposed that the Unemployment Board should supply local bodies with meat at l£d per lb. for relief workers, the local authorities to provide facilities to cut up tho meat, which would bo paid for by deducting tho cost from workers' wages. It had been suggested that local bodies could charge an increased price for meat sufficient to recoup overhead expenses. "This scheme will probably put more men on relief work than wo havo at present," said tho Mayor, Mr. I. J. Goldstine. "Butchers in the city and suburbs have difficulty in making a living now, but Mr. W. Slaughter has asked local bodies to convert themselves into butchers to sell this meat. He even suggests that we put on a charge of |d per lb. to cover expenses. As far as I am concerned I rofuso to act as a butcher and carry on in opposition to ratepayers and residents who arc only barely able to make a living. After stating that the council imposed stringent regulations on butcheries in tho borough, the Mayor said tradesmen had been put to considerable expense to mako their premises satisfactory. "It is now proposed that we should got a tin shed, a block and a few relief workers and sell meat wo would not purchaso ourselves under tho circumstances," ho concluded. "Public money is being used to tho disadvantage of legitimate trading," said Mr. J. J. Boyce. "In my opinion the men should bo given more wages to buy in the legitimate way." The Mayor said that in Australia relief workers were given coupons which theycould use at their usual shops, benefiting traders in their districts. "I think this proposal is a preposterous one," he added.