PRICE OF MEAT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15457, 28 February 1921, Page 5

PRICE OF MEAT.

A REDUCTION ARRANGED. WORK OF PRICE: TRIBUNAL. At the conclusion of the sittings .of tho Wellington Price Investigation Committee in Hastings,, the chairman (Mr C. M. Luke) made the following pronouncement to tho press:—“The tribunal had a number of matters to investigate, but the .chief question which occupied them was the retail price of meat. This led. to a long conference between the tribunal and the butchers, with the result that they arrived at what may be considered, from a public point of view, a • fairly satisfactory' conclusion. The loca] butchers all agreed tp reduce the price of meat, to take effect from March Ist, Much of their stock had been purchased prior to the fall of the last few days and, m some items, they may have to meet the drop in the market at their own personal sacrifice. It was possible that, if there was a further considerable drop, prices would have to be reviewed at a later date. There, were also other matters which occupied tho attention of the tribunal.” An interesting demonstration m the butchering craft took place in the pre*.ence of the members of the committee md the local InTtchers. The tribunal had completed a chart jor their guidance, setting out how a bullock's carcase should be cut up. for sale in the shops, and the vaiious prices which should be reasonably •barged per pound tor the different portions. At. the sitting of the tribunal m Thursday, this matter was discussed between experts and the members of fho nornmiUoe find, in order to decide the correctness of the, tribunal s conclusions, it was arranged to bold a practical test. A bullock which bad been laughtcred was duly cut- up and priced, when (be market cuts provided out of the carcase demonstrated clearly tliak there wns fi considovnhlo wristc in,each “arcase, caving to bone and unsaleable portions, the result, being practically in accordance- with the tribunals calculaThe tribunal desires the public tr realise that iho drop in the piues of hides, pelts “and tallow 'accounts somewhat. for the disparity in the price.p< stock on tho hoof and Of the carcase ir the shops. The butchers, having pur ’based the beasts at a price, must make their returns on that, out of tin price obtained bv them for the meat, -twine to tho big drop which lias taker place in the by-products—hides, pelts ■ rid tallow.— Hastings Tribune.