COST OF MEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1916, Page 2

COST OF MEAT.

RETAIL PRICES INCREASED, An average increase of about id per lb. has been made by the members of the Paranaki Master Butchers' Association in the cost of meat retailed from the shops. An increase of Id. per ' pound has been made on beef steak and sorbin, 3d per Jb. on ribs, and 3d on hearts. The" price of mutton legs, chops, and hind quarter has been raised Id per lb, while shoulder and forequarter have been increased by |d per lb. A leg of lamb will cost Is per lb in future, a hind-quarter Is, and a forequarter lOd. No increased charge lias been made for mineemeat, ox tails, and neck of beef, and the cost of pork will remain the same. In order to encourage cash purchases at the shop, the butchers have decided to charge Id per lb extra for all meat delivered. They aver that prompt payment is essential owing to' the action of the auctioneers from whom they purchase their stock charging eight per cent, extra unless all payments are made within 14 days of the purchase. The increased charges have been made necessary, the butchers assert, by the fact that they have to pay mbr": for their stock owing to the demand made by freezing companies. The cost of labor, hora-fced, paper, twine, and other materials required in connection with the busmsss has increased to such an extent as to make the revised scale of charges necessary. While a Daily New.? reporter was making inquiries of one of the loci] butchers, a;i English woman, overhearing the conversation, interposed and asked, "Are the people here complaining about the coat of meat?" On. being assured they were, she resumed, "Why, when I left England in June the butchers were charging 2s 0d per lb for meat, and the authorities were urging the people to observe one meatless day a week. The people here don't know what they are grumbling about, surely?" {