Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-10-15
Jack Pickering
Jack Pickering
Here
anal
II OW
Meatless days in Detroit

days In Detroit?
We set out to learn what we
could and came up with some
startling facts which we hadn't
expected.
First-We can't find anybody
who is interested in starting
meatless days. but there are
plenty OF people willing to fol-
low If somebody starts il.
Second - Unless the govern
ment changes some Of its regu-
latiOns, Detroit won't get as
much meat per person as people
will get in other parts OF the
country.
Third-The packing industry
is in an uproar because ceiling
prices on some meats are so low
they lose money. So naturally
they don't sell such meat. even
though the public is clamoring
TO buy il.
Over al the OPA offices, Ar
thur ii. Sarvis. the state direc-
tor. and Paul Conrad said they
thought voluntary meatless days
New York is trying tho plan.
and the American Legion is
sponsoring the same thing in
Ashland. O.-would be good
thing in Detroit
They said m eatless days
would be "a good conditioner
for people 10 get them in prac-
iice for meat rationing when II
starts.
These OPA men said they
thought II was coming. hut not
tdl after gasoline. fuel oil and
rubber problems have been set
tied. The government has sttg-
gested two and one-half pounds
n week ~ the likely ration for
each person.
We stopped next AZ Joe Car.
wins for lunch GarVln SAID
that he and his chef were maxi
ing preparations in case meat
less days. are begun. and added
that one day this week he was
unable 10 find any hams In
wholesale houses. and had 10
change his menus.
II was his opinion that people
arc boarding ham and bacon.
hut he has been able 10 get
enough fresh meat
Raw Fling. executive secretary
Of the Michigan Restaurant and
Caterers Association, said that
there had been considerable
discussion of meatleSs days. and
the consensus Is In favor 81
meatless days decreed by the
government
A mild suggestion won't do
any good. but If tho government
comes out cold. everybody would
do il.
He added that slower ceilings
here" were reducing the meat
supply. didn't pay much at
fention 20 that, hut I should
have. A couple OF hours later
7 found out what he meant. And
he meant plenty.
Anyways. We asked Mayor JEFF
fries about meatlesS days. He
said he would do Whatever was
necessary. but as Yet had rc-
ceived no official word 81 any
need for meatleSS days What
he said do the packers say
~ it
And ttTdT nfew TIT M OF
This country. said Otto Cham
bers Of the Detroit Livestock
Association, is producing some
four billion more pounds of
meat this year than last. but IS
sending more than that increase
10 the army or 10 Europe under
lend-leaSe.
Al the same time he added:
1.-THE small packers don't know
what to do. We have a ceiling
Of % cents n pound on dressed
beef. The cost of beef on the hoof
Is from IA, TO l6 cents, plus
freight. You get only about go
per cent OF the weight in meat.
The rest Is discarded. Figure
II out for yOurself--it costs them
about 26i, cents hut they can't
sell II for more than 23."
So-rather than lose money
they don't sell il. The more they
sell. the more they lose That
explains filings remark that !
had dismissed before.
However. the beef is available
II the price difficulties arc
ironed out. Or is il?
p. V. Unwin Of the Indcpend-
ent Meat Packers Association,
'sdded this:
1.-TWO and half pounds
week IL Just about the average
that has been eaten for the last
10 years. But the OPA has just