MEAT PRICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26851, 16 August 1948, Page 4

MEAT PRICES

BOTCHERS CONCERNED EFFECT QF SEASONAL RISE Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, Aug. 15. Retail butchers in all centres are concerned at the extent of the seasonal rise in the price of fat stock at auction and at the delay in the release of the report of the Commission of In-, quiry into fresh meat supplies, which is expected to refer to fhis problem. Meanwhile, butchers say that in some centres, because of the high cost of meat, they will reduce the amount of mutton sold across the counter. In other centres, butchers say they will be obliged to offer tne public frozen meat.

It is reported from Rotorua that butchers there have, by agreement among themselves, advanced the price of meat by as much as 4d a lb, according to type. Apart altogether from the seasonal increase in the cost of meat to butchers, there is a prospect of a further all-year-round rise ift prices if the new season’s schedule price to farmers allows the increase now generally anticipated. Farmers are pressing for a pay-out of a substantial part of the increase to be paid by Britain for Dominion export meat. If the farmers’ claims are granted, the domestic meat market must be affected unless the Government decides to reintroduce the retail subsidy which was withdrawn last year.