HIGHER PRICE OF MEAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13299, 7 February 1914, Page 6

HIGHER PRICE OF MEAL

■ » ! BEEF BECOMING DEARER. (Special to Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day. In discussing the high price of meat, Mr Wing, manager of Hellabys Ltd., remarked: — "This is the first summei that beef has gone up m price, instead of declining, and the reason is that the local market is being affected by the: world's markets. N Tne frozen meat trade is more active than it has evet been before. Canada has become a factor of great importance, and on all the outside markets there is almost phenomenal activity.' The result is that the freezing companies and export firms m New Zealand are operating freely, and prices have gone up accordingly. It is true that for two weeks m January prices showed a slight tendency to drop, but tlie reason for that was that the freezing companies had to take a temporary pull, inasmuch as eyery inch of cold storage m Auckland was monopolised, and there was no room for more until the Home boats came into port and relieved the congestion. . Buyers for Home ! and foreign markets are now operating as freely as ever, and Friday's prices indicate that there is no tendency for values to decline, but rathe*, to increase! Cattle, m fact, are up 10s per head m price to-day compared with last week. The latest quotations indicate that beef is costing us 32s per. 1001 b, as against 30s this day last week. Vancouver agents are paying big prices, and are actually offering 28s od per 1001 b for beef m the paddock. It is nonsense to talk of a butchers' ring when market prices speak for themselves. This time last year, as anyone can see by turning up the market reports, the average price for beef was 2os per 1001 b. The January average for this yeaT works out at about 31s. A difference of 6s per 1001 b works out at about fd per lb all over the beast, practically from head to tail. In previous summers beef has declined iii price when lamb begins to come m freely. This year not only has beef maintained its value, but lamb is quoted at 6Ad per Mb, as compared with 4|d and 4_d last year. A recent newspaper correspondent complains that meat is a luxury for the working man. It must not be forgotten tbat the working man will have nothing but the best rump fillet of steak -every time. It would surprise the public if it was known just bow much of the cheaper qualities of meat we have of necessity to can and send away to compete with other canning firms because there is no demand for it here; .Furthermore a cooperative butchery is suggested but it is evident that the public has no grudge , against the established butchering firms for the*, last co-operative meat supply business 'failed for lackl of public support. No, the butchers are not responsible for the high price of meat' m Auckland, and if there is any ring operating, it is not a ring m New Zealand.