PRICE OF BEEF

Southland Times, Issue 18937, 10 May 1923, Page 5

PRICE OF BEEF

IS IT TOO HIGH? ALLEGATIONS OF PROFITEERING • (Per United Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. The Meat Producers' Board, in a circular letter, asked for the co-operation of the Canterbury A. and P. Association in its ‘‘eat more be<*f” campaign. The letter was discussed at to-day’s meeting of the general committee of the Association. The chairman (Mr R. E. Alexander) remarked that if the general public got beef at a price proportionate to that at which butchers bought it, there would be little need for a campaign. Beef, though being bought at certain rates at the yards, was just as dear as ever to the consumer. The Board apparently was going to control prices in the Dominion and so encourage consumers to eat beef. Mr H. S. S. Kyle asked if that should not be done by the Board of Trade. The chairman said he did not think that the attention of that Board had been called to the matter. It was a very serious matter to the producers of the Dominion. Mr K. J. S. Murchison said that there was a body in Christchurch inquiring at present as to the cost of landing mutton and beef into the butchers’ shops, the idea being to test if the butchers were putting prices too high. The chairman remarked that butchers were buying beef and selling it at disproportionate prices. It was decided to write to the Board of Trade drawing attention to the disparity between the buying and selling price of beef wholesale and retail.