THE HIGH PRICE OF MEAT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17688, 28 July 1919, Page 10

THE HIGH PRICE OF MEAT.

. TO THE EDIIOII. Sie, —Various statements which have been made in connection with the subject [ of the prioa of meat are not in acoordanco ' with- fact. " L'arnjer No. 2" staxes " that .. butchers got to work and blocked their • bus!D2£s"—that of selling meat at auction. 'Ilii3 statement is untrue, as the sellers , were warned by Mr Donaldson, the city I inspector, before the first lot of moat was i auctioned that they ware not conforming ( to the city by-law governing the sale of meat, but as they had a number of sheep ] killed permission would bo given for the auction to take place. They also had the benefit of legal advice to the effect that they were offending and rendering them- | solves liable to prosecution. In the faco of this the authorities wore treated with contempt. Tho City Council also had a | cominunication from tho Health Department drawing attention to the necessity for compliance 'with, the city by-law, and with t tho regulations under the Sale of Foods and Drugs Act. Compare these facts with ; your statement. The deputation's remarks to tho City Council would convey the impression that > farmers were the suppliers of tiio auctioned i meat. This was not so, as the animals, with tho exception of one lot, were bought by a butcher at Burnside sales. I know tho supplier, and saw hint buy most of the lots that wcro killed for auction purposes. Ono lot pf sheep cost 17s 6d and another lot 14s per head. If necessary other prices paid can bo supplied. It was also stated that a saving of 5s per wook could bo effected in ths meat bill of a worker's family. I saw forequarters of mutton bought at auction at the rate of 4jcl per lb, and at the same time really prime forequarters could bo bought in butchers' shops at 5d per lb—a saving in favour of tho auction of a halfpenny per lb. But 1 am willing, for argument's sake, to allow i that a penny per lb .was saved. At that j rate a man and his family must have been ] consuming 601b of moat per week to •affect tho saving of ss. Taking tho average number of a 'working man's family as six, and then if the statement of tho deputation waa eorrcct, the working man's appetite foi mutton is most abnormal, and not in keeping with my experience. "Settler" says "that the retail business of .the town is rapidly being absorbed by men who have unlimited capital behind them, and are out to exploit the people." I beg to state that there is no combination in tho retail meat trade of Duncdin. Every butcher can sell at whatever price he thinks fit. .He is undor no' bond or arraugement with any oombine or association whatsoever. Tills correspondent also 6tates that " 'butchers can got 70s per cwt for their tallo.w." Yet, Sir, pure beef dripping is being retailed over the counter at 6d per lb, with labour, paper,' and twine into tho bargain. Butchers are getting 20s to 21s per cwt for rough fat. As for tho stateI xrjent that butchers get tho same price as freezdrs for skins, hides, etc., tho schedule list -of ( prices for' these commandeered articles is ono penny per lb more to freezing 5 , woriis than to butchers. Wo are accused of I- exploiting the pjoplo. Does it moan exploitation. to soil ininoed beef, without bono, 5 fat, or sinew, at 6d per lb when cattle are S costing 60s per 1001b? 0 "Settler" also states "that high-priced d sheep aro ' trottod out " for a blind, that 3- this is a common practice, and that they aro i- owned ■by the butchers 'themselves and aro i. used to deceive tho public." This is a sorious statement, and merits severe con>2 damnation. If your corresppndent will oomd municato with me I will undertako to go ; with him to each stock agent in the city, ?. find out tho number of the alleged hjgh1, priced sheep "trotted out" by butchers e during tho last 12 months.with a view to d the i>ublishing of tho result. n If any, or cither, of your correspondents '8 has a genuine desiro to holp the public i- to i-eduos the cost of living by selling cheap il nwat, tho suggested difficulty of procuring 10 tiles need not bo an obstaclo, as I will i- undertake to overcome that for them. In -- fact, they ncod not go to the expense oven ■r of a knife and steel. Your correspondents is have indulged in a socioe of exaggerated f5 and incorrect statements, without -first conD si do-ring their import, but prior to a general election it is usual to get plenty of noise, 1 ; presumably with tho impression that it ?- clears tho way towards getting a scat in y Parliament.—l am, etc., h * ' Thomas Smth. )3 G-eorgo street, July 24.