Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1919. STATE ENTERPRISE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1963, 10 April 1919, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1919. STATE ENTERPRISE.

Dl’lHNd Plymouth meeting Hr !’. I'Vascr, M.P., spoke of the success of Slate enterprise hy Ilnf Labour (Jovenunenl in Queensland, paying parlienlnr attention to the success of the Slate meal shops, with which he contrasted "the miserable failure of the New Zealand (lovernmeiit's attempt lo open a meat shop at Auckland.'' The Taranaki News has just run across an account of the “success'' uf (he Slate hatchers’ simps in Townsville, Queensland, which m stated lo be in the most favourable position possible. They get their meat fresh from the meat works for 3d per lb, for six months in the year, and 3jd per lb. frozen for the other six months. They sell for cash at from 4d to lOd per lb., and as they have a huge turnover, should show “some'’ prolil when (heir margin is from HI to djd per lb. Vet what do we liud ? The Auditor-HeneraTs report gives the following: “Townsville head shop loss, £1,653 8s Gd; Causeway shop loss, £1,653 8s Gd,; Railway Estate shop Joss, £491 7s sd; North Ward shop loss, £142 16s” —total £5,905 18s 3d. Here are shops doing business on a cash basis, no delivery, with a margin of from Id to 7d per lb. in winter, and id lo Old per lb. in summer, and yet losing nearly £6.000. The total turnover of the.. State shops in Townsville for the year was just under £30,000, and the loss about £6,000, or a

fifth of Ihc lotul turnover. We would like to hove Mr Fraser's explanation of this position, says the “News,” which is somewhat different from what he led the loeal people to believe.