THE PRICE OF MEAT

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14592, 16 February 1921, Page 3

THE PRICE OF MEAT

THE BUTCHERS’ SIDE.

The views of a well-known stork dealer and a reputable batcher of the town, on Ihe above matter, which was referred to by a correspondent in yesterday's issue, being mentioned to Ilieiu by a Times representative, were lliat even if the figures quoted were correct (and they were md quite accurate) the butchers would be making no undue profit. In (lie lirsl place Ihe selling prices quoted were I'm' inferior stuff which a good butcher would not touch. How beef and ewe mutton were undoubtedly cheap, but some butchers would no! sidi such inferior meat when better quality was offering.

Ox beef at tlie last sale brought to c - i (is per cwt., which worked out at about sld per lb, including bone, hide, hoofs and offal. The choicest cut on the beast brought Is 3d per lb, but of this there was only about 41b, while of shin and oilier inferior part's, which sold at 3d, there was no less than 501 b. There was only about -Oih of rump steak, which sold at Is per lb. while brisket, of which diene was a lot, sold at sd. This was all sold without bone (excepting the roasts of beef) which must he taken into consideration, as while the butcher paid for the bone be was not selling it to Ihe consumer. There was a lot of work in honing meat, which all had lo be paid for by Urn butcher. Fat lambs bad boon dear rigid through, cosling from 3Jd to ‘.id per ill at Ihe yards, while pork brought as high as id, except for the big. coarse sluff. Another point Hint had In he considered was the high cost for die privilege of having stock killed at 1 lorotin. Anproximalely 12s Get per 1 least was added to Ihe cost for killing, freiglils and, paddocking. Then it must nol be forgotten dud while die butcher bought on appearance, lie

could only sell after inspection, and the result of the inspection was that lie often los I a good deal of his meat, which was condemned. One Hamilton hulcher a few weeks ago dins lost five pigs in one week, which cost t I IPs each. Another lasi week lost an ox which cosl him £ 1 i ins. and i\\o sheep foi- which he paid 30s each, and all he cot in compensation was t 3 13s ;;d fur die Pd. lie used to md some measure of return oul of die hides ami wool, bid now diese bad fallen so much dial die return was not nearly adequate'. If dm butchers bad their own abattoirs, nearer die town, dm price of meat would fall. They had oil',.red lo erect dmm. bid the Borough Council would not delegate die killing powers to the Butchers’ Association, though ii apparently had no objection In banding them over to a freezing company.' Both informants asserted emphatically dud the profit on meat was nol nearly so great as would seem on appearances.