FALL IN PRICES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 162, 5 April 1921, Page 5

FALL IN PRICES

TRIBUNAL ON THE WATCH LIVE STOCK AND MEAT Speaking to « Dominion reporter yesi^ r ‘ u^e (chairman of ■»ne Wellington District Prices Investigation Tribunal), said that the Tribunal had 'been carefully watching the retail price of moat in connection with the drop in the price of stock, and recently’ had visited Hawke's Bay, Tai- ' hope, Raetilii, and other places in the •listrict in that connection. As Into as Wednesday last they had sent out telegrams to the places not visited, conveying the injunction that the retail prices had to ba reduced in sympathy with the fall in the price of Stock In one or two instance# it had been pointed ont to the Tribunal that- butchers had bought stocks on the hoof at the higher prices ruling n few weeks ago. and those would take seme little time to work off. In other instances it had been found that the decline in sf’tef prices had been sb rapid that butchers who had purchased a’ the liiduw rates were compelled to fal? info line with others in the trade before there highpriced stock had been marketed. There were butchers, too, who were reprecenting that th* prices al which thev were being compelled to sell by force of circnmstances did not allow of a sufficient margin of proft to make their businesses pay. Only yesterday morning tho Tribunal had a long interview with n representative of one of the big freezing companies, who had made the statement that, during the last winter they had bought stock at a loss—not a common experience—hoping to make it up with their summer buying. They now stated that a considerable loss had been involved in that branch of the business. The public could rest assured that the position was being thoroughly investigated in the district under the Tribunal’s jurisdiction. The butter question was also receiving a good deal of attention. There seemed to be considerable -confusion on tho part of the retailers as to what price they should bo allowed to charge. I” that connection, tho Tribunal had pur itself into communication with the daiw produce associations throughout the district, and whilst an eye was being kept on the situation, he had nothing further to indd to whnt Bh(1 fllrofldy been made public. Consulted re the big drop in hides and skins in relation to the price ol boots and shoe#,. Mr. J-uke said that already a drop in' tho price’ of manufactured goods had been considered, but, of course, much of the stock in band had been made ent of high-priced leather, and that would take some time to work of? . None would doubt that there had been n perceptible drop in the cost of clothing.