PRICE OF MEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25299, 5 September 1945, Page 8

PRICE OF MEAT

SUBSIDY DEMAND WHANGAREI BUTCHERS' MOVE (0.C.) WHANGAREI. Tuesday < Unless butchers in Northland are granted an additional subsidy of 2d pet lb on all meat sold to the public all « shops will be closed as from the coming week-end. This decision was made at 1 the annual meeting of the Northland Master Butchers' Industrial Association of Employers and a telegram to this effect has been forwarded to the Prime Minister, Mr Eraser. In the telegram, the master butchers state that with beef at £3 per 1001b on the hoof and mutton at £2 '6s a head on the local markets it was not possible to carry on with the present price schedule. An immediate advance of 2d per lb in subsidy is asked for and it is also requested that all accrued losses from November 1, 1944, be met by an immediate subsidy payment. A reply is sought by Thursday, September 6, otherwise butchers' shops in Northland will not open on Monday, A Whangarei master butcher stated j today that the present retail price of meat was fixed on beef at £1 16s pei cwt, but the buying price for beef had increased, so that now it was nearly double that figure. Under these conditions it was not possible for the trade to carry on unless some adjustment was made. Repeated representations had been made to the authorities respecting this position, but no redress had been given. . . The batcher also said that in W hangarei only sufficient meat was being held by butchers for this week and that it would not be possible for the public to secure extra in anticipation of closed shops next week. The butchery trade was the only trade in which permission had not been granted by the authorities to pass on extra costs or to recover these by way of extra subsidy. A meeting of master butchers is to he called on Monday to consider any proposals that may be made bv the Government. The decisions of each district meeting would be communicated to the association for consideration. CASE BEFORE TRIBUNAL STATEMENT BY MINISTER (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The decision of the butchers of the North Auckland industrial area to discontinue business next Monday if no satisfactory reply had been received from the Government in the meantime regarding beef and mutton prices was the subject of an urgent question asked in the House of Representatives today by Mr A. J. Murdoch (Opposition— Marsden), in conjunction with Mr S. W. Smith (Opposition—Bay of Islands) and Mr T, O. Webb (Opposition—Kaipara). Addressing the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, Mr M.urdoch' asked if he had received a telegram from the master butchers of North Auckland, pointing out the serious difficulties under which they were trading and requesting an immediate review of beef and mutton prices. He also asked what action had been taken to prevent a breakdown in the service to the community. "The position regarding retail meat, prices generally is that the master butchers throughout the Dominion have agreed to present their case for higher margins coffering increased costs to the Price Tribunal through the New Zealand Master Butchers' Association," said the Minister in reply "This case was submitted on August 7 in writing and further oral evidence was given on August 28. The tribunal is examining the case, but further trading accounts have yet to be submitted, after which final consideration will be given. "In the meantime the high prices being paid by butchers at auction sales are due to the competitive auction system which butchers are not willing to abandon. I am advised by the Minister of Marketing that there are ample supplies of frozen beef and mutton at the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's Moerewa works and that these are available for the retail trade in the present difficult supply position, "The prices which would be charged for this meat would be the Marketing Department, Export Division, f.o.b. purchase prices, plus a charge for any special services," continued Mr Sullivan. "There should be no difficulty or ; loss therefore in butchers supplying beef and mutton at the authorised price at the present time."