THE RISE IN MEAT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8990, 15 May 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE RISE IN MEAT.

A meeting of hotel and restaurant-keepers was held at Mr George Bodley’s dining room on Wednesday for the purpose of discussing the advisableness of forming a co-operative butchery company. There was a good attendance, and Mr F. Moeller; was v«.ted to the chair. The Chairman explained that Mr Bodley, who had convened the meeting, would submit a scheme for the formation of a co-operative butchery, for the purpose of supplying meat at a fair rat»—a rate that would leave a' fair profit to the grower and to those who catered for the public. The butchers could- give no sound reason for raising the price of meat. One of their arguments was that meat had gone up at least 20 per cent in price, but he (Mr Moeller) knew on the , authority of meat-growers in the Manawatu district that that statement was not . true. The oo operative system had worked wiTl in other parts of the world, but the difficulty they would experience would be in getting the hotelkeepers and resfanrant-keepers ta work together. They were all jealou-* of each other, and'there was no unanimity .amongst them. Mr Bodley said the butchers bad no reason for raiding the price, and it was simply a combination on their part to put money into tbeir own pockets at the expense of the public. He stated that Mrs Ormsbee, Mise Crawford and Mrs I-aaus would support the movement. He Lad been asked if the working men would be allowed to -join the company, so that there was not the slightest doubt that the concern W<inld be well supported. The format! >n of the company would be well received by the stock graziers, who had been sweated long enough. He explained that he had already been offered a site for a slaughterhouse, so there would be-no difßouby ia that respect. Mr

■i. Jones said he was, one of the promoters and directors of the ’Bus Company, which had fought the Tramway Company, and he thought that they would be able to fight the butchers. He also thought they might have a separate company to deal in coals, as the Union Steamship Company had as much a monopoly in coals as the butchers had in meat. The Chairman suggested that a committee should be appointed to consider the matter and report af a future meeting. After further discussion, a committee, consisting of Messrs P. Mueller. S. Gilmer, H. Gilmer, A. Walker, T. Orr, J. Condon, A. Barlow, D. Dealy, I>. E.* Lawler, H. Sullivan, G, Jones, G. Bodley, W, F. Jenkins, and R. Carrigan was appointed, with power to add to their number. The Committee meet next afternoon for the purpose of electing a secretary and arranging the preliminary business. Christchurch, April 30. The butchers to night decided to rai-e the price of meat in consequence of the high prices ruling for fat stock*