The Daily Alaska empire., 1942-12-23
I0pA ISSUING
 CONFLICTING TURKEY PRICES
Merchants Decide 10 Abide by First Regulations
 Issued Here

ReRulallOllS IcSd QillS OAAC PAAOS " be charged for turkeys by merchants of Southeast Alaska issued by the Office Of Price Administration on December 21 were superseded late yesterday by new regulations on prices merchants could charge for the birds, issued by Mrs. Mildred Hermann, OPA Director, who re- turned yesterday from Washington, D. C..
 The new regulation, No. 288, which was received too late for publication in The Empire yesterday, establishes ceiling prices on turkeys sold In Alaska at considerably below prices heretofore charged und OPA authorization.
 As fixed by the latter schedule, received by wire from Washinton, D. C., and confirmed by Mrs. Her mann, maximum prices for turkeys in Ketchikan, Petersburg, Wrangell, Juneau, Douglas, Haines, Skagway and Sitka are as follows
 Schedule
 Regular or dressed: 16 pounds or under, grade A, prime, 56 cents; grade B, choice, 55 cents; grade c, commercial, 52 cents. Twenty pounds or under, grade A. prime, 55 cents; grade B, choice, 52 cents; grade c, commercial, AT cents. Over 24 pounds, grade A, prime, 53 cents; grade B, choice. 52 cents; Grade c, commer- cial, AT cents.
 Oven-ready: IA pounds or under, grade A, prime, TO cents; grade B, choice, 67 cents; grade c, commer- cial, 62 cents. Seventeen pounds or under, grade A, prime, 6e cents; grade B, choice, 65 cents; grade c, commercial, 61 cents. Over IT pounds, Grade A, 68 cents; grade 5, 63 cents and grade c, 50 cents.
 Additional Charges
 For turkeys, individually packaged in cartons by the wholesaler, an additional charge of 20 cents per bird, regardless of weight, may be added. This charge should, however, be listed as a separate charge on the sales slip, Mrs Hermann stated.
 It was also stated by Mrs. Her mann that since November whole sale prices for turkeys throughout the country have been frozen under Schedule 269 and retailers are ad- vised that all Seattle wholesale prices are fixed on a graduated scale based on the weight of the turkeys and prices charged Alaska retailers are exactly the same as those charged local retailers, no premium being added for the AL aska trade.
 All Alaska dealers were advised concerning the revised price sched- ule issued yesterday and will be held to strict compliance with its provisions, Mrs. Hermann stated.
 Meat Dealers Comment
 In commenting on the attitude of the OPA, the meat dealers of Jul neau point out that they received from the OPA, on December 2l, a memorandum reading as follows;
 ITO: All Juneau Meat Markets From: Calvin E. Pool, Assistant Al aska Director Subject: Turkey prices. The Office of Price Admin istration in Juneau has received g number of complaints since the time prevailing turkey prices were an nounced before Thanksgiving. As you recall, we made a study o1 turkey prices in Juneau at that time intending to put into effect a turkey price schedule which would fix a definite ceiling for each grade o1 bird.
 This turkey schedule has arrived but it's complete application would result in great hardships to Juneau retailers. We are, therefore, asking that you follow the formula pro- vided in MPR 194 November, 1942 mark up) instead, and price youi turkeys accordingly.
 We shall appreciate your coop eration in this matter"
 The following statement has beer made by the dealers:
 "This memorandum means thai the dealers would be permitted te charge the November prices foi turkeys-that is the prices at which they were sold for Thanksgiving This memorandum was received by all dealers on December 21, and tht dealers proceeded to act in accord ance with the memorandum anc probably half of the turkey sale' have already been made at tht prices allowed by the memorandum and the turkys delivered Some hav' been sold on credit, but many hay' been sold for cash, and in som' instances, without any record of tn name of the purchaser.
 | Change Is Made
 Now, late in the evening of De cember p, the OPA attempts to mak
 (Continued on Page Three)