MUTTON-BIRD WILL BE EXPENSIVE THIS YEAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 72, 21 July 1950, Page 5

MUTTON-BIRD WILL BE EXPENSIVE THIS YEAR

Although South Island muttonbirds have been on sale for some months in southern centres- few have been seen in the Bay of Plenty and none at all in shops. Some are expected to arrive in the district in the next few days but they will be expensive. They will cost far more than the odd shilling the mutton-bird fancier used to pay for the best of birds a long time ago.

During the northern season most mutton-birds sold in the district come from the different colonies in the Bay of Plenty. On the sea coast and among the many islands Maoris gather them annually to bring Iback to the hungry mainland. One of the reasons advanced for the disappearance of the birds is the controlled price.. Merchants have said that birds are sold in the same way as beef, the larger the bird, the the price. When (lie controlled price was instituted merchants stated that there was not enough profit allowed to make it worth handling the birds. Moreover, a buyer paid the same for a large bird as £or a small one.

In spite of the control there has also been - a marked increase in price. A Christchurch survey recently revealed that where a plump bird could once be bought for ninepence, a poor to average sample now cost 2/3 and a good bird ranges in price between 4/- and 4/6.