THE PRICE OF MEAT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9054, 1 April 1908, Page 5

THE PRICE OF MEAT.

CR YARR'S PROPOSAL. NEGATIVED BY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Cr Yarr brought on hia motion again at the Borough Council meeting last evening, in reference to the establishment of a municipal butchery, and in accordance with notice given by him, moved as follows: "That, provided the solicitor lo the j Municipal Association advises the j matter is within the power of the Council, this Council take steps to establish a Municipal Retail Butchery." Cr Yarr said that he had an offer from a private source, by which prime ox beef could be placed in a municipal shop at about 2j|d per lb, and prime wether mutton at about 3£d per lb. He suggested that the old Druids' Hall would make a very suitable position for a butchery, if certain alterations were carried out, and the Council could, he said, run the business on such lines that the price would be less by Id per lb than at present, and no liability incurred. Cr Pauling seconded the motion. Cr Elliott thought no one knew better than Cr Yarr that only special legislation would give the Counci power to act on the motion. Itl seemed strange that if the huge profits alleged to be made were a fact, that so many changes took place in the proprietaries of butchering firms, and that there was not more competition. He opposed the motion. Cr Ewington said he was positive the Council could not legally embark on the venture, and, furthermore, it was not desirable for it to do so. He sympathised with the mover in his object, but would not support the motion. Cr Pragnell opposed the motion, while also being in sympathy with the mover's object, but suggested that Cr Yarr start a co-operative butchery, offering to take shares !* n i^Cr Morris merely met tioned that at New Plymouth a municipal venture of the kind proposed had, some three or four years ago, lasted exactly five months and three weeks, and the loss was £834. Cr Yarr, in reply, said he was surprised that so many present knew all about the Municipal Corporations Act, but yet were not willing to allow the motion to be carried, and their opinions on the Act to be verified. ' The motion was lost on the voices, the mover and seconder being apparently the only supporters.