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If the trend continues, it must over a long period diminish the importance of the auction system and increase the incentive to butchers to organize group buying and to seek the co-operation of groups of fat-stock producers in ensuring supplies. Ultimately, therefore, the forces now at work in the meat trade may lead to the adoption of a Dominion-wide domestic schedule such as is now advocated by the butchers. But it is clear to the Commission that an attempt now to anticipate these developments would involve State action on a large scale and would require butchers, fat-stock producers, and, indeed, all sections of the meat trade to submit to a wide measure of State control and supervision. On this point the analogy of the national milk scheme is most relevant. For reasons which are social as well as economic, the Commission does not think it desirable that the State should seek to do for the butchers what the butchers, given a spirit of co-operativeness and wide leadership, are capable of doing for themselves. Conclusion In conclusion, the Commission would express its appreciation of all the assistance which it has received. Had it not been for this assistance the work of the Commission would have been very considerably increased and the time of its deliberations would have been materially lengthened. We would thank all the witnesses and counsel who co-operated so willingly with us, And we would express particular appreciation of the excellent and hard work of the typistes (Misses J. C. Strachan and M. Trimble). Finally, we would place on record the excellent work of the Secretary (Mr. J. D. Lang). It was mainly due to his efforts that the work of the Commission functioned smoothly and efficiently. We would like the appreciation of the work of these three people to be conveyed to the appropriate authorities. We have the honour to be, Your Excellency's most obedient servants, A. A. McLachlan (Chairman). A. P. O'Shea. R. B. Tennent. L. C. Webb. 23rd July, 1948.

MINORITY REPORT I find myself unable to agree with the statements and recommendations contained in the foregoing report in their entirety, and therefore submit the following report on subjects on which I find myself holding opinions at variance with the majority report of the Commission : 1. Whether the supplies of fresh meat available for the New Zealand retail market are adequate at all times of the year. I am in agreement with the three opening paragraphs of the majority report which deal with availability of supplies, with the exception of the phrase " in recent months." This denotes the period in which prices paid for live-stock were excessive when related to the retail price order, and I am of the opinion that submissions and evidence indicate a longer period of excessive live-stock prices.

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