THE PRICE OF MEAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2571, 4 August 1909, Page 6

THE PRICE OF MEAT.

ENGLISH AND NEW ZEALAND RATES COMPARED. / The price of meat ia a subject of great interest and importance to householders, and considering the extraordinarily low prices at present being obtained for North Island meat in England, a comparison of the retail charges in a few of the North Island towns may be of interest. According to- tho latest cable from the High Commissioner, North Island mutton is being quoted at 2 : ',d per lb, a price which shows a decided advance >u that of a very short time ago, when it was selling for from lgd to 2d per lb. he price of beef is now quoted: Hindquarters 3i]d, and forequarters 2-)d per lb. From these figures has to bo deducted the consolidated charge for freezing and freight, which is, during the winter months, £d per lb on mutton and 15-16 d per lb. on beef, and in addition, all wharfages are a still further charge. The following table shows a comparison of tho retail prices ruling in a few of the smaller centres of the North Island, and it will be seen that Gisborne compares favorably with the other places:

Tho above prices are liable to vary slightly, as in some cases inferior meat is sold a little cheaper. The figures quoted are taken from a recent issue of tho Labor Journal, and the latest prices fixed] by the Gisborne Master Butchers’ Association are practically the same, with the exception that chops are now being sold at sd, instead of 54d. Within the last few days/ however, one local establishment has laun--ched out with sweeping reductions, and apparently in an endeavor to promote cash trading quotes the following prices per lb. for the above-mentioned articles : Mutton, forequarters 2d, leg and loin 3£d, chops 4d ; beef, top sides 34d, sirloin 4d, prime ribs 3-Jd, corn beef 2d to 3d, sausages 3d, and steak 4d. While the price of meat in the Dominion appears to bo very much greater than that charged for the Dominion’s meat in England, it must he borne in mind that the figures quoted by cablegram are in every case wholesale charges.

Gisborne. Napier. New Plymouth. Tailiape. Wanganui. Palmerston N.

Mutton — d. d. d. d. d. d. Forequarter 35 34 5 . 4 35 3 Leg & loin... 5 5 6 55 5 5 Chops Si G 8 6 G 6 Beef — Topsides 44 5 5 5 45 45 Sirloin 54 6 6 5 6 55 Prime Ribs ... 41 5 5 44 5 45 Corned Beef 44 5 5 5 5 44 Sausages 4 G 5 . 5 5 4 It umn Steak 7 7 1 8 6 8 7