'LA VILLETTE', THE PARIS MEAT MARKET - A SCENE OF VIOLENT SCUFFLES NOVEMBER 21 BETWEEN BUTCHERS PREPARED TO SELL BEEF WITHIN NEWLY ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT PRICE LIMITS, AND THOSE WHO WERE NOT - WAS HEAVILY GUARDED BY POLICE AND GENDARMES THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN MEAT VANS ARRIVED TO CARRY ON A NORMAL DAY'S BUSINESS.

TROUBLE WAS AGAIN CAUSED BY A MASS OF BUTCHERS WHO HAD FOLLOWED THE BUTCHERS' UNION IN REFUSING TO DO BUSINESS UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL. BUT THEIR ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT COLLEAGUES FROM UNLOADING MEAT SUPPLIES WERE STOPPED BY THE POLICE.

IT WAS ON THAT DAY THAT GOVERNMENT PRICE LIMITS FOR BEEF CAME INTO FORCE. THE BATTLE TO BRING DOWN THE PRICE OF BEEF WAS DECLARED BY M. MISSOFFE, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNAL COMMERCE, UNDER THE INSTIGATION OF PRESIDENT DE GAULLE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REFORM ARCHAIC AND DISHONEST PRACTICES IN THE MEAT BUSINESS, HE INTRODUCED ON THE PRICE CONTROLS.

THE BUTCHERS ARE SAID TO BE DEEPLY OFFENDED WITH M. MISSOFFE FOR HAVING SUGGESTED IN HIS SPEECHES THAT MOST OF THEM ARE PROFITEERS. THEY ARE ALSO REPORTED TO BE INDIGNANT AT THE SUGGESTION THAT THE CARCASES THEY BUY SHOULD BE WEIGHED.

M. MISSOFFE IS ALSO PROPOSING TO UNDERTAKE A REFORM OF LA VILLETTE, AT PRESENT IN THE HANDS OF A CLOSED CORPORATION OF DEALERS. THE BUTCHERS ARE PROPOSING TO SELL NOTHING BUT MUTTON AND VEAL UNTIL THE PRICE OF BEEF IS FREED AGAIN.