PRICE OF MUTTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1938, Page 3

PRICE OF MUTTON

SHARP RISE PREDICTED DUE TO FACIAL ECZEMA By Telegraph.—Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 3. A sharp rise in mutton prices in the near future is predicted by Mr C. Bridges, president of the Auckland Master Butchers’ Association, because of the growing shortage of sound wethers occasioned by the facial eczema epidemic.

Because of the rigorous system, of selection and inspection of stock losses by Auckland butchers through the purchase] of eczema-infected sheep have been small.

“The public need have no fear in buying mutton,” said Mr Bridges. “Great care is exercised in purchasing sheep at sales and the inspection at the municipal abattoirs is so pains taking that there is no chance of an infected carcase finding its way to a butcher’s shop.” Butchers had experienced some losses through the disease being in its early stages when stock was bought, and therefore, difficult to detect, said Mr Bridges. In an effort to secure the same conditions as were ruling in the Waikato, butchers were conferring with stock, firms. The arrangement desired was that where the disease developed within two days of the sale the loss should be borne by the vendor.