FOOD COMMISSION

Southland Times, Issue 19458, 24 January 1925, Page 5

FOOD COMMISSION

CONSIDERATION OF MEAT PRICES. PROFITS OF BUTCHERS AND SALESMEN. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, January 23. (Received January 23, 11.30 p.m.) At the Food Commission sitting, Sir Auckland Geddes commented: “This is a most mysterious trade.” During the evidence regarding meat supplies, Mr William Blakeman, who was a divisional inspector under the Ministry of Food during the period of control, expressed the opinion that butchers at present were making a very good profit, but he would not like to say it was an exorbitant profit. He declared that the butchers had never been so well together as now. Combinations and co-operative societies were also against the public. Mr Blakeman added that the meat trade was in very few hands, and combines kept the prices up. The President and Chairman of the London Central Markets Association testified that there was no form of combination or trust in the meat trade. All Smithfield firms compered keenly, and the increased price of meat was not due to trade manipulation or speculation. The profits of the Smithfield salesmen were a long w r ay below their pre-war profits.