HIGH MEAT PRICES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1924, Page 3

HIGH MEAT PRICES.

SEED EUR ENQUIRY

iOHTUAfjIAN A**'D N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. (Received this day at 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. I!.’. Practically all the newspapers are drawing attention to the rise in the retail meat prices, which are deselibod in various terms, the least id which is the epithet, unreasonable. Ibe “.Morning Post” publishes an article on the mystery of meat profits, and says an examination of the highly complicate! position of the meat trade suggests a state of things that may he thought nothing less than amazing. 'I he “Post” points nut that beef is sold in the Dominions for under threepence per pound, and at Sniithfield for a penny more. It has been retailed at as much a-, sixteen pence per lb. Ihe retail profits often range up to one hundred and fifty to two hundred per cent. N<> adequate explanation of these huge profits has thus far been forthcoming. l,ut they are being made at the expense of the consumer.

The paper points out that Government committees in 1909 toiind that American firms of packers co-operated in regard to prices and deliveries on the British market. This was denied, hut the charge was repeated to a similar committee in 1022. To-day. however, the American I rust- is faced with ii. single British Combine, namely, the Union Cold Storage, which by a process of acquiring shares in other companies. exercises control of South American and Australasian fieezing works, together with the wholesale selling establishments and 2100 retail shops. A large number of other meat undertakings such as Weddels and Nelson Tiros, are allied with the Union Cold Storage, leaving a few. British importers outside the scheme. Cnnseqiiontlv tin* import trade may he said to he in the hands of the Combines anil the American Alcnt Trusts, while the local distribution is hirgelv controlled by the British Combine. It is for a Government enquiry to determine whether the existence of such a combine has any relation to the high prices of meat to-day.