int

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When the Meatcutters Union
@gate reported a strike vote just
rt of 90-percent in support of
ige demands and the key issue of a
jorfer work week, at last week's
ion of the Vancouver and District
ry Council he also stated the
e position of his union; viz, that
jotiations are largely being
lucted through the medium of the
pily press featuring of large
pany advertisements”.

se advertisements purported to
how well off the meatcutters are
how “unreasonable” their
ands, are inserted by Safeway,
r-Valu, Shop-Easy, and other
chain store distributors.
atcutter's delegate Johnson also
d that “if the union increased its
ands three times over, it still
ldn't equal the increases in meat
s now being charged the
mer in most meat retail stores”.
following article by HX.
in of Vancouver well illustrates
angles in this meat prices
e, and fully justifies the union's

By H.K. WARREN

writer has just finished
ing the pretentious ad in the
daily morning newspaper,
eel that some remarks are
der, re the meat processors
demands. First, I do not
to question the statements
ther party as I feel that the
eatcutters are quite competent
jdeal with the statements made
he retail outlets.

owever, I do ate that among
of thesé Well informed partici-
Hy soto ot them ‘should be
to ‘answer some of’ the
tions that come to the
mer mind re the prices now
fect on the retail shelves.

e writer subscribes to two
ie farm weekly newspapers
quote very extensively on
prices of farm produce at the
ghter level. In the past two
. the. price of medium to
fattle have remained stead-
ly,at. around $25 per hundred.
. there are minor flurries
show a small fluctuation of
t 50 cent per hundred one
or the other, but, generally
remain the same through St.
face, Saskatoon, Calgary,
onton and Brandon.

The average weight of
ghter cattle for North
rica from the latest figures
able is 1,009 lbs. live, and an
age carcass weight of 578
Our retail ‘‘friends’’ will
e that the tare weight must
‘deducted, but, if one looks at
le average retail meat case, one
ll realize that a very large
rcentage of the so-called tare
sold at very lucrative prices.

Workers ©

Benevolent Assn.
Of Canada

Progressive Fraternal Society
Caters to all your needs in the
Life Insurance field

E INSURANCE
ENDOWMENTS
PENSION PLANS
WEEKLY BENEFITS
Apply to: B.C. office at

805 East Pender St. or

National Office at
595 Pritchard Ave.

LS a ROSE 2

Hinnipeg. 4 Manitgba, I.

UBLIC BEING GOUGED

WHY ARE MEAT PRICES SO HIGH?

Tongue at 69 cents per lb. Heart
and kidney at 49 cents.

Those who know anything
about slaughterhouse usage,
know that even down to the
contents of the stomach are used
for fertilizer, and, at very sub-
stantial prices. The hoofs and
horns, (even the genitals) are
processed for glue. There is very
little, if any tare in the modern
slaughterhouse.

Yet, in spite of this constant
price over the past two years of
live slaughter cattle, the price of
cut beef on the retail shelves
have steadily increased. T Bone
from 69 cents to $1.29 per lb.
Even oxtails from 19 cents to 33
cents. Shank bone (which is
mostly bone) from 29 cents to 59
cents. Neckbones from 9 cents to
19 cents.

Maybe our retail, friends will

Jtry.to argue that wage increases
have had-avery strong impact on

the price spread. To some extent
we can allow their argument,
but, one does not have to be very
well informed to realize that the
price of cut meat has
outstripped, by far, the wage
increases percentage wise.

There is a very interesting
facet in the retail price of meat

OBITUARY

Mrs. Christina Morison

Mrs. Christitia Morison, a
faithful supporter of the
progressive movement, passed
away recently. She will be
remembered by rnany of the
unemployed youth, who
campaigned for work and wages
in the Thirties, and as one of the
charter members of the
Mothers’ Council.

Before it was disbanded this
Council had a remarkable record
of work accomplished. It met
daily to care for the everyday
needs of the youth and organized
appeals and protests to the
provincial and federal
governments on their behalf.

Of late years, Mrs. Morison
was handicapped by poor health,
but she consistently retained a
keen interest in the labor
movement and especially
supported all efforts for peace.

She is survived by her
husband, Mr. James Morison, to
whom we extend our sympathy.

‘ —E. J.

SERVICE

DUNDAS

B-A
(WALL & DUNDAS ST.)

Complete Auto Repair and Service
: for All Makes
Government Certified Mechanic and

Vv. W. SPECIALIST
Ph. 255-6828

to be learned by comparison.
That is that the price of hogs,
live, is considerably higher than
beef.
hundred weight as compared to
$25 per hundred weight, and yet,
the price of pork at the retail
level is considerably lower, for
comparable cuts, than prevails
for beef.

The live weight as compared to
the carcass weight is roughly the
same, give a few pounds. Yet we
see the incongruous situation
where spare ribs are being sold
at 98 cents per lb. while one can
buy other cuts that are much
more meaty in the 39 cents to 79
cents per Ib. prices.

For instance, this week, May
38rd, large retail outlets are
specialling fresh picnic shoulders
at 39-59 cents per lb. Spare ribs
are still 98 cents per lb. Country
style spareribs with much more
meat than regular spare ribs are
priced at 79 cents per lb.

Somebody has to explain to this
writer why, when the price
compares as above with
approximately the same weight
and slaughter conditions, I
should have to pay such a high
price for the one as compared to
the other. Further, somebody has
to come. up with a good explana-
tion, why there should be such a
wide spread in prices paid to the
producer as compared to the
price quoted to the consumer.

There is another area that
needs to be explained by
somebody. That is poultry.
According to the farm weekly
quotations before quoted, the
price of fryer chicken has not
exceeded 20 cents per Ib. in the
last two years, and yet, our retail
outlets announce specials in
large type advertisements of
fryer chicken at 49 cents per Ib.,
and, normally one goes to the
average retail outlet and expects
that the price of.fryer or broiler
chicken to range in the 53-55 cent
mark.

Boiler fowl has been quoted to
the producer consistently for the
past two years are 8-942 cents per
lb., but, the lowest quote we get
in retail outlets on very special is
29 cents per lb. for (B) grades.

As Shakespeare once said,
“The frog beneath the harrow
knows, the place where every
tooth point goes’’. I feel that the
average consumer is like that
frog. And, he should get some
sensible explanation from some
source. I am certain that the
retailer or the meat cutters can
give us some of the answers, and,
I would like to see them reply.

Approximately $35 per ,

.

IS RUNNING OUT!

ONLY 2 WEEKS LEFT

WE NEED
$7,500

BY JUNE |

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¢ PUSH SALE OF
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REMEMBER — YOUR HAIR-
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.-ORPHEUM BARBERS. *

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4

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—-MAY 16, 1969—Page 11 -

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