PRICE OF MEAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 22

PRICE OF MEAT.

KATES IX WELLINGTON'. (Eitou Quit Own Correspondent ) WELLINGTON, August 3. Another rise in the pr.ee of meal in Wellington is stated to be imminent. It is expected that by the end of the week the retail butchers will be asking for another id per lb on beef, and Ad on mutton. The local retailers have already hud the priceraised upon them, the wholesale men increasing prices to-day, which, it is asserted, means an extra cost of £lO per week to local butchers in placing the meat in the shops. The cause of this rise is the scarcity of meat in the local market, and the cause of the scarcity scorns to be attributable to the invasion of Auckland buyers into the Wellington province in search of meat. It was recorded on •Saturday that a Mangaweka farmer sold 23 head of cattle at £ls 10s per head, and received 25s per head for 2000 sheep from Auckland buyers. According to a local tradesman the Auckland buyers scorn to be swarming all over this island. The local markets cannot got the meat, and with the outside competition prices are being forced up. A meeting of the executive of the local Butchers’ Association will be held this week and it is fully expected that the rise in price will be handed otr to the customers.