THE PRICE OF MEAT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 10, 29 August 1914, Page 7

THE PRICE OF MEAT.

INTERESTING COMPARISON. A correspondent of the Wellington “Post” writes as follows:—“This advance in the price of meat imposed by the local meat exporting companies is an attempt to extort money from the pockets of the Wellington public by very unfair means. The writer’s calling takes him all over the country districts, and he can say truthfully that stock is very cheap in the North -Island, and in fact many producers of fat stock picture a gloomy outlook for the future as far as prices are concerned. For your many readers’ edification, I enclose the price of meat in Palmerston North, Christchurch, and Wellington under yesterday’s date (24th August). The striking discrepancies in the figures speak for themselves. Trusting you will give this matter your urgent attention, as it affects the whole of the masses.”

The discrepancies mentioned by the ■correspondent are summarised as follow from the three advertised lists he encloses—one from a prominent butcher in Christchurch, the second From a Palmerston North butcher, both advertised in the local papers of the respective towns, and the official announcement of the Wellington Master Butchers’ Association, advertised in the Evening Post: — Mutton. —Forequarters, Welli n gton, 4kl, Palmerston North, 3d, Christchurch, 3d; chops, Wellington, 7d, Palmerston North, sd, Christchurch from 4d; legs, Wellington, 6|d, Palmerston North, sd, Christchurch not given; loins, Wellington, C(d, Palmerston North, 4^d; shoulders, Wellington, sid, Palmerston North, 4d; neck and breast, Wellington, 4d, Palmerston North 3d; hindquarters, Wellington, s£d, Palmerston North, 4£d. The Christchurch list does not include shoulders, loins, neck and breast, and hindquarters. Beef.—Sirloin, Wellington, Bd, Palmerston North, s£d, Christchurch, 6d ; ribs, Wellington, 6sd, Palmerston North, 4kb Christchurch, 4id; rump steak, Wellington, lOd, Palmerston North, 7d; rolls of beef, Wellington, s)d, Christchurch, sd; beef steak, Wellington, 7d, Palmerston North, sd; corn brisket, Wellington, 5Jd, Palmerston North, 4£d, Christchurch from 4d; sausages, Wellington, sd, Palmerston North, 4d, Christchurch, 51b for Is; tripe, Wellington, fid, Palmerston North, sd; gravy beef, Wellington, sd, Palmerston North, 3d; mince, Wellington, sd, Palmerston North, 3d. Other prices are in much the same proportion.