SUPPLY OF MEAT

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 9

SUPPLY OF MEAT

SALE BY FREEZING COMPANIES TO

RETAILERS. (Fbom Oue Own Coeeespondknt.) WELLINGTON, January 9. Tho Right Hon. Mr Maseey made a statement to-day regarding the sale of meat by freezing oompanies to *the retailers. H<S said tho Government. lately completed an agreement with all the freezing Companies under which the retail butchers in the dominion can obtain supplies of meat at the Imperial-purchase prices for the retail trade. The agreement, which expressly provides that moat eo supplied may be either freshly killed or frozen, is already Cperating in some centres, where butchers are receiving iroshly-jdiled meat from the companies* Other butchers can do the earne after ob< taining the necessary permit, so long as the class of meat required in th% premises of the freezing company front Which it is desired to draw supplies. "It is a fact," said Mr Massey, " thas frozen meat, properly defrosted and pro*

porly handled., forms a first-class article of Lad. I am quite certain that much of it has been consumed in New Zealand without consumers having: any idea that the moat had been frozen. A retail butcher desirous of obtaining meat from freezing companies should commui.icato -with the- Board of Trade, or with Dr Reakcs (Director of the Live Stock Division, Department of Agriculture), -vvho in this matter is acting in conjunction with the board, and who is empowered to issue the necessary permit." The following fs a schedule of the prices per pound:— Wethers, first quality, 721 b and under, 53d; first quality, over 721 b and up to 851 b, s&d ; first quality, over 851 b and up to 98lb (subject* to special approval by inspector), 4£d; second quality, 4Ad. Ewes, first quality, 721 b and under, 4gd; first quality, 721 b to 851 b, 4§d; second quality, 4|d. Lamb, specially prime and Canterbury quality, 421 b and under, 6£d; first quality, 421 b and under, 6gd: first quality, over 42ib, 6gd; second qualify, 6£d. Beef, prime ox, sd; second and heifer, 4?d;, boning in quarters, 4id; cow, prime, 4|d; cow, second, 4^d. The permit is subject to cancellation at anv time if the holder is not properly fulfilling the conditions. y