Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-07-11
Packers Blamed
For High Meat
Prices by Group


sale meat packers Is the main rea-
son for the high cost Of meat,
according to figures obtained this
week by the Minneapolis League ~
Women shoppers. u consumers
group.
People Must Organise
The only way the people can
fight the organized power Of these
great corporations (Armour, Swift.
Cudahy. Wilson, etc. II TO or.
ganiEc too" League spokesman
said. Women especially must get
into the fight against the high cost
of living. because they do most Of
the buying, They should Join their
unions ar auXiliAries, their conSum-
crs' clubs or coop groups"
The Leagues information was
obtained from the research depart
ment Of the United Packinghousc
Workers ~ America. CIO, and from
talks with AFL and CO union of.
fcials In the meat industry.
Wholesale Reef Up sS%
The League found that whole.
sale beef prices at New York In
the Rrst two weeks Of June. l9I7,
were pb per cent higher than they
were in the corresponding period ~
June. i04G,
Farmers and retailers. however,
did not get In on this gravy train"
Prices paid by the same Wholesale
meat packers 10 farmers at Chi
cago were only 30 per cent higher
this June than last. Retail meat
markets In New York. due to con
sumner resistance, could not pass on
the full Increase charged Ia them
by the big packers. but raised their
prices only 10 per cent over June
0f 1916.
Farmers. Retailers Squeezed
In June, lOA6, when price control
was StilI In effect, the big packers
could sell their beef to the New
York retailer NJ price only 2B
per cent higher than they paid 60
the farmer at Chicago, In June,
l9A7. this "EpreRd" between the
farmers and the Wholesalers price
had risen TO 90 per cent.
The retailers, on the other hand,
have been caught In reverse
squeeze. The New York retail price
for beef In June. ip46, under OPA,
was 63 per cent higher than the
packers wholesale price. This June
the New York butcher could sell his
beef for n price only ~ per cent
higher than the amount he paid the
wholesaler.
Zig Packers Prohtesr
The take" by the big Wholesale
meat packers Ia reflected In their
profit reports. The League found
that profits In I04G, after income
tax deductions. for ten major meat
packing firms Including ArmoW.
Swift. etc. were I24 per cent high.
er than In ig4b. and totalsd fTb..
800 900. Armour alone made near
| Iy $4,000. 900 In the first half Of
1916; but In the second half Of the
year, when price control was killed,
Armour's net profits were over E2O''
600 900 more than double'
Meat Companies Killed ORA
The League Of Women shoppers
pointed out that the big meat pack.
eTn we're leaders In the campaign
10 end price control last year, aud
that the packers thereby reaped
tremendous profits nj the eEpena"
IL the consumer, the farmer, and
! the retail butcher. The i.eagu"
offered 70 give information and help
| the unions, auEiIiariss, and other
examinations and individuals In
terssted In fighting the high COS,
~ living. Telephone IL Locust
3siO.
League Officers
| NrwIy-sIectsd officers Of tho
/ League u Women Shoppers are
| Marjorie Kirkpatrick, chairman;
Mary Hall. first vies-chSirman;
Jean Nudsll, second vies-chairmHu;
sylvia Becker. recording secretary;
Mabel Brink. corresponding score
iary, and Rosemary Black, treas
uTTF.