MEAT SUPPLIES

Evening Star, Issue 23381, 26 September 1939, Page 8

MEAT SUPPLIES

Will GOVERNMENT CONTROL LOCAL MARKET ? FIXING PRICE TO BUTCHERS The control of all fat stock by the Government, which will fix the price to the farmer, and the purchase by the butcher of all his fresh meat requirements from the hook at Burnside, thus eliminating the necessity for fat stock sales, is the rumoured intention of the authorities as the solution to the problem of fluctuating prices for meat for local consumption.

In other words, this would mean the complete control of internal marketing of meat as with that shipped overseas, together with a definite guarantee to the farmer, presumably similar to that given the dairy farmer. If such form of control did eventuate then the butcher would not be required to attend sales to bid for his requirements, nor would he be bothered with the disposal of skins, etc. It is generally known the Government is going into the question of tly? fixation of meat prices, and evidence has recently been given before a commission in Wellington. Whether the, rumour current in the city is simply a guess at the Government's intentions, or whether it has some foundation in fact, remains to be learned. In an endeavour to glean something definite on the point, a ‘ Star ’ investigator approached the president of the Master Butchers’ Association (Mr R. S. Vercoe), but he stated quite firmly he knew nothing of the proposal, or whether it had any foundation in truth. The Government, said Mr Vercoe, was considering the whole position of local meat supplies, but he did not think it had arrived at any decision.