PRICE OF MEAT IN WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8543, 25 September 1907, Page 5

PRICE OF MEAT IN WELLINGTON.

AN INCKEASE. J The rise in the price of meat adds another burden to the Wellington housewife. Shortage of supplies is given as the reason for the advance. Retail butchers drawing on meat companies have received notice of increase in the price of wethers by £d pet lb—on carcases of 681b and under, 3fd; 691b and over, 3&d. Ewe mutton is Jd less per lb for the weights mentioned. "■lnquiries made in authoritative quarters showed that the price is entirely ruled by the supply. It is claimed that there is a great shortage, caused by over-exportation. As a matter of fact, it is stated that wholesale firms have been selling at a loss in the belief that the stringency of prices would not be prolonged. They had been paying 27s for wethers only averaging s<llbs, and carcases had been sold to butchers at 3|d per lb, leaving, it is contended, not only no margin for the wholesale firm, but comparatively little for the retailer, who, against the profits he makes on cutting up, has to allow for waste, unsaleable fat, delivery wages and other disbursements, also for bad debts.

One of the large meat companies, -which does not belong to the Master Butchers' Association, has no intention of raising the price of meat, as the company considers (so a Post reDresentative was informed) that although prices are now high meat will be more plentiful in about six weeks' or two months' time, and then the price should fall to a payable level