UNSOLD MEAT AT SMITHFIELD

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27396, 8 July 1954, Page 6

UNSOLD MEAT AT SMITHFIELD

Butchers Wait For Prices To Drop (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 6. Meat hung unsold at Smithfield, the world’s largest meat market, today while butchers waited for prices to drop on the second day of ration-free meat buying in Britain for 14 years.

Yesterday when meat—decontrolled on Saturday at midnight—flooded the market in the heart of London, prices rocketed as butchers scrambled to get stocks to fill their shops. Today Mr A. J. Jackson, secretary of the National Federation of Meat Traders’ Associations, said: “Prices are bound to come down after yesterday’s chaotic state of affairs.

“I think a lot was due to inexperience in buying after 14 years of controls and to the anxiety of retailers to get hold of meat to make a good display/’ There was already a slight drop of about Id or 2d per lb on some cuts of meat. Yesterday rump steak went up to 7s per lb from 2s Bd. New Zealand lamb was up by 3d per lb and there was a promise of English joints costing as much as 6s. Today many shops were still selling English rump steak at 7s per lb, but the average price for imported steak was about 5s per lb. Stewing steak was about 2s 6d per lb. New Zealand shoulders of lamb were being sold at Bd per lb, the same price as last week. An English shoulder of lamb cost 3s 6d. Housewives More Selective Many housewives paid whatever § rices they were asked in the shops, ut they were more selective than they have been for 14 years. The London Hjusewives’ Association for the Protection of Family Life said today that members had unanimously agreed to boycott meat until the price came down. A butcher with three shops in a working class suburb of London said he had bought a little meat today, but would not pay fancy prices. “Like most butchers I have a fair stock left over from last week and am holding oft until prices drop a little,” he said. Other butchers were surprised at the amount of trade they had done in spite of the higher prices. All are expecting a bigger rush at the end of the week when housewives will be able to buy the biggest family joint for years. British meat prices are still no higher than the average retail prices in Scandinavia and on the Continent. In some cases they are much lower.