CONTROL OF MEAT PRICES.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 25 August 1917, Page 4

CONTROL OF MEAT PRICES.

MINISTER’S STRONG INTENT.^'

WELLINGTON, August 24. Discussing the of State meat shops and the ,-&:*®y of meat to butchers in regulated *id scheduled prices the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald pointed out that maximum schedule of had been fixed so far as as the centres were concerned. The Movement had arranged, also to supply butchers as far south pf Auckland as Taumarunui, and at all centres practically in the North Island. The only question that remained was, if the butchers failed to take advantage of the Board of Trade arrangement to secure meat at these prices, and sold above the rates fixed it wocld be for the Government to start State shops. It was the intention of the Government to do this wherever butchers put up prices of meat beyond the schedule but he pointed out that if the Government were to rush into opening butchers’ shops everywhere without considering the circumstances it would be only courting disaster. Every phase of the question had to be gone into regarding every kind of food product as far as possible, and up to the present time there had been a great reduction of prices and prevention of increoses. Next to the war, declared the ister the most Important question throughout the Dominion was food and food control. (Hear, hear). The law of supply and demand could not operate during war time. There had te be some control over the whole of the food supplies of this country, and also over many other matters if the' war continued very much ]onger. (Hear, hear).