GOVERNMENT DEFIED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 September 1943, Page 3

GOVERNMENT DEFIED

BY CHRISTCHURCH BUTCHERS. TROUBLE OVER PRICE ORDER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) . CHRISTCHURCH, September 16. Following threats that they would' tak’e action to remedy the position, many city and suburban butchers today increased the price of beef by 2d or 3d per lb. in defiance of the Government price order fixing ceiling retail prices. This action was taken after a meeting at the Addington yards yesterday at which more than 100 butchers considered the position which has arisen through continued high wholesale prices on which, the butchers claim, they cannot sell at the retail' fixed prices and make a profit. An officer of the Price Tribunal in Christchurch this morning said that the position was being watched. If any butcher was caught selling above the fixed prices he would be prosecuted. • The Government’s action in releasing frozen beef is not acceptable to mpst members of the trade, especially as no announcement has been made officially telling the public that this type of meat is available. In any case, the butchers say, the public prefer fresh beef. It was reported that the Master Butchers’ Association had sent two re-ply-paid telegrams to Wellington asking for some indication of the Government’s plans for meeting the position. One wire was not replied to. A reply was received to the other to the effect* that no action would be taken till after the election, as it was evident that the butchers were trying to take advantage of election conditions to force the issue.