RETAIL MEAT PRICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1921, Page 6

RETAIL MEAT PRICES.

AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON. A new schedule of retail meat prices came into force in Auckland on Monday. Reductions varying from lAd to 2d per lb have been made on all joints and steaks. Prices of cuts, such as rump steak, sirloin of beef, legs and loins of mutton, have not been reduced to the same extent as other joints (says the Auckland 'correspondent of the Christchurch Press). The reason for this, us explained by the president of the Auckland Master Butchers’ Association, Mr. G. F. Lane, is that -the demand for these cuts is insatiable and altogether out of proportion to that for other cuts. He states that the experience of butchers is that during the past two years the demand for the more expensive joint’s has increased to a remarkable extend, notwithstanding the outcry regarding the high cost of living. Other joints just as palatable when properly cooked, and of equal food value, are neglected, except by the really economical housewife, and are almost unsaleable, although in many cases offered at lower than the wholesale cost. Regarding the prices generally, Mr. Lane affirms that the new schedule will barely cover costs and expenses, taking the average low prices for fat stock ruling at last Wednesday’s market and the present values of byproducts. He thought those outside the trade failed to recognise that the lower prices ruling for cattle and sheep were caused more by the big drop in values of by-products than the decline in export values of meat. The reduction in meat prices in Wellington has evidently been greater than in Auckland.' Following are some of the Wellington prices recently published compared with the reduced rates in Auckland: Wellington. Auckland. Rump steak ...... 10d lid Sirloin beef • W W Prime ribs Beef steak ..... 7d 8d Corned round .... 7# 8d Shins 2d 2d Leg of mutton .... 5Ad 8d Forequarter ....... 4jd Loins 6ld 8d Chops • Aid. 8d Veal fillets 8d 9d Veal loins .....» 6d 7d Forequarter 4Ad 4d Cutlets 10d 10d Pork prices in Auckland have l>een reduced Id per lb all round. It is stated that no change in the price of pork has been announced in Wellington