DELIVERY OF MEAT

Southland Times, Issue 24602, 26 November 1941, Page 6

DELIVERY OF MEAT

PETROL AND LABOUR DIFFICULTIES

BUTCHERS MAY CEASE MAKING ROUNDS

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, November 25. Because of increasing difficulties over labour and the effect of the petrol restrictions, the Auckland master butchers are seriously considering whether they will not have to discontinue deliveries and sell over the counter only. The whole matter is to be discussed at a general meeting of their association next Monday night.

A large proportion of the men formerly employed in delivering meat was now on war service, said a leading master butcher, and most of the youths were in the territorials. Some employers considered that when the long training courses began next year it would be almost impossible to continue deliveries. Boys were difficult to recruit for the class of work, which required an early start on Saturday morning and a six-day working week. There was a wide choice of jobs with a five-day week and boys went to them. The occupation was essentially one for the young and the robust, and war requirements naturally made heavy inroads upon it. Delivery costs had been heavy in addition to butchers’ overhead.

For a number of years, the butcher said, it was estimated that the average round cost something like £9 a week to maintain and no charge was made for service. The addition of a penny a pound for booking and/or delivery, as specified in the price schedules, was rarely imposed in practice. Thus customers who purchased over the counter obtained no concession. Out of about 150 butchers’ shops in Auckland some 20 were already doing a cash and carry trade, and in Wellington the proportion was believed to be considerably larger. If a general agreement were made to cease deliveries it was possible that certain rounds would be retained to meet special circumstances. However, a charge for delivery would probably be made in such cases.