11 NOVEMBER 1865, Page 2

Bitter complaints of the price of butchers' meat are finding

their way into the journals. It would seem from the evidence supplied that the leading butchers, who are less exposed to competition than any body of tradesmen, the business requiring capital, health, and callousness all combined, are using the cattle plague to plunder the public. They give no more for the cattle, indeed rather less, as the graziers are hurrying beasts to market, but they have in- creased their charges by at least 20 per cent. Indeed we do not see why they should not increase them 50 per cent., for people will not give up meat until compelled, and there is no competition. The only remedies are to establish meat markets near the great railway stations, and so •introduce the country butchers, or organize companies to sell good meat for 'cash at 10 per cent. on cost price. It is said that meat ordered in the country and brought up by railway costs only 1034. per lb., but the process is too trouble- some.