STATE MEAT SHOPS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2985, 24 January 1917, Page 6

STATE MEAT SHOPS

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS

BOARD OF TRADE AND THE RETAILERS

A FAIR DEAL FOR THE PUBLIC

The proposals made by the Board of Trado for the supply of meat to . the retail trado in Auckland were explained to a .Dominion reporter yesterday by the Aon. W. D. S. MacDonald,,Minister of Agriculture aud Acting-President of the Board. "The Auckland master hutchers have announced increases in the retail prices," said tho Minister, "and we are seeking to prevent this addition being made to tho burdens of the consuming publio. Tho Board of Trado undertook to supply tho butchers with meat from tlie freezing works at the prices at which it is sold to tho Imperial authorities, on condition that tho retail prices were adjusted on a fair basis. Tho Butchers' Association has not accepted this offer up to tho present time, but some butchers who are outside the association have expressed their willingness to handle meat on the terms suggested, and we aro now arranging to supply them from the freezing works. Tho details of the arrangement are still under discussion. "The butchers who are agreeing to handle tho meat will run the shops on behalf of the Government. Practically they will become managers for the Government, if the arrangement at present contemplated is completed. I hope still that tho Butchers' Association will agree to sell the meat from the freezing works at the fixed prices. We do not wish to onter tho trade at all, but tho Government is determined to prevent if. possible any increase in retail prices above what seems to be a reasonable level, in view of tho wholesale prico,at which we can undertake to supply'tho meat. The retail prices fixed by the Board of Trade will be rathor less than tho prices that have been ruling in Auckland. The. basis will bo tho rates paid for meat by the Imperial Government, plus tho cost of management, rents, distributions, etc. Tho Government does not want to make any profit, but merely to maintain fair rates. "It is not suggested that the Auckland butchers aro making exorbitant profits. .Tho fact is that the great bulk of the fat ■stock in Auckland and elsewhere goes into the freezing works at Imperial rates, and it is very difficult for the butcliers to purchase sufficient for their requirements without paying very high prices in the saleyards.v My idea was to make an arrangement with the butchers that would give them adequato supplies of meat at lower prices than they are now paying, that would secure to the farmers the i full prices paid by the Imperial authorities, and that would provent an unduo increase of retail prices in the towns and cities. But so far I have not been able to get the Auckland butchers to see eye to eye with mo on this proposal. I am hopeful that when they understand the proposals thoroughly they will come into line. "Butchers who receive supplies of meat from- the freezing worlcs through the Government will be required to undertake to rotail it at fixed, prices. The Board of Trade, in consultation with experts, will fix tho prices for each out. This scheme is not going to interfere with Army, supplies. Two classes of meat aro required by the Imperial authorities for military purposes. We would retain a certain proportion of tho balance, including iamb and other classes of meat not at present by the Army. Tho publio should understand that the pick of the Dominion's moat goes into the freezing works at the present time. All meat that we supplied to tho retail trade would havo teen passed by the Government inspectors, and would be clean and wholesome." Tlie Minister .added that it was quite likely the scheme would be extended heyond . Auckland. A beginning had been made there owing to the fact that tho position had become acute in the northern city, but the Board of Trade had been investigating tho subject in other parts of Now Zealand. The Board had made .general inquiries In several places, including .Gisborne and Duncdin. It had been asked by the Mayor of Gisborne to arrange for tho supply of- meat at reasonable prices, and it had received complaints regarding present prices from Masterton and elsewhere. Tho Government was anxious to assist the consumers, and if it could arrange to supply the retail trado at the Imperial prices, which were very remunerative from tho point of view of the. producers, there could be no reasonable objection in any quar- . ter. '