PRICE OF MEAT

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 15

PRICE OF MEAT

NEW AGREEMENT IN CHRISTOHURCH.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 30. An agreement has been reached between the Board of Trade and the master butchers of Christchureh in regard to the price of meat. The new agreement, which was arrived at after considerable negotiation between the parties, will come into operation on September 7, and will continue in operation till December 31. It is estimated that the reduction on the existing retail prices is equivalent to Jd per lb. Calculated on a population of 30,000, tho effect of the reduction to meat consumers in Christchureh will be a saving of £60,000 per year. Mr M'Donald (acting chairman of the Board of Trade) said it was not proposed immediately to gazette the prices, although that would be done if it was found that any of the butchers were not respecting the agreement. The prices fixed were not

quite as low as those obtaining in the Government shops at Auckland. They were baaed upon 47s or 48s per 1001 b wholesale, although as much ae 60s had been paid at recent sales. In tho event of the wholesale market being considered too high to enable the butchers to sell at these rates, they would bo able to obtain supplies trom the Imperial storee, in which event tho prices would have to be again considered.