Poorer And Dearer Meat If State Interferes

Chronicle (Levin), 5 September 1949, Page 5

Poorer And Dearer Meat If State Interferes

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter

. Copyright)

Received Sunday 7 p.m. LOXDOX, Sept. 3. Tlie Tmported Aleat Traders' Associa- ' tion, in a memoraiidum to tlie T.U.C. for circulation among meinbers, says nationalisation of the import and distriluiting maeliinery of tjie meat industry, with its attendant bulk purchase, must lead to less meat, poorer quality and liigher prices. What. is required for successful meat distribution is a system in whieh the eonsumer can choose his retailer and buy the type, quantitv and quality of meat he desires. The mernoranduni says: "Our butchers are still handcuffed to Whitehall. The svsteui would beconie permanent under nationalisntion. Oentralisation would meaii ! the coniplete loss of flexibility whieh is ' essential to the well being of butchers and customers. The suggestion that the nationalisation of the meat trade would not affeot retailing, is nonsense for ho« ea ii retailing be free when all sources of supply are nationalised? Twelvehmidreed importers and wholesalers before the war filled 49,000 butchers' shops with the best luid Ihe cheapest meat in the world. The housowife could 1 1 n v four pounds weight of good meat for ls 4d whieh is the price of our pre sent ration of 12 ozs. "