WILL MEAT PRICES RISE?

Chronicle (Levin), 17 November 1948, Page 5

WILL MEAT PRICES RISE?

Press AssaaatiorJ-

WJiolesaJers Snbmit Ideas To Tribunal

(Per

WELLINGTON, Nov. 17. The lifting of priee contrbls -on fres-h meat during the winter 1 months an'd .eneouragement of .the use of frozen meat for local c.on- . .sumption- when fresh meat- 'is. in shor t supply were two* ' measures advan'ced tofthe Priee Tribunal to- ; (day b.y the Associated Meat Whole■salers .as a .soiution to the problems experienced by hutchers op-erating under the present retail prices. N "If it is establishe'd ' that butchers are faced with a problem, it is -one which is incapable of soiution by fhe introductaon of a wholeSale priee order for the hasic reason that w-e. are dealing With a commodity, supplies of which are unpredictable, an'd cannot be regulated by a pre-determined priee," said a statement read by Mr. H. R. '.C. Wil'd, on beha-lf qf wholesalers. "Wholesalers feel that the soiution lies in the abolition of prioe control, :but since .control is a matter of Governnient policy they suhmit the following alternative suggestions as oSering a true and workabie remedy: — "Firstly, that the system of retail priee control of fresh meat should be lifted between July 1 and October 31 when, according to the Meat Comm.ssion's finding, the priee -of 'stock was too high for butchers to make a reasonable nrofit in that period under the exist ing retail priee order. This period is also when the basic difficulties caused by uncontrollable variatiohs of supply have the greatest effect. It is a period when priee control of .a commodity like meat has been found to be unworkahle. "Secondly, the use of frozen meat during periods of shortage snould be extended and popularis-. ed. Experience has shown 'during the year that. the public will eat frozen meat during a period of high prices and shortages of fresh meat. Frozen meat will be more attractive to the retailer when telescoping is 'diseontinued next year. If the tribunal found that butchers were suffering under diffiQulties .at preSent, those diffi3 culties were themselves proof of the failure of existing .control. The adoption of a wholesale priee order wouM only place the wholesaler in the same position as one butcher now complained of," said the statement. The hearing is proeeeding.