NO BAD MEAT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2779, 25 May 1916, Page 7

NO BAD MEAT

FOOD SUPPLIED TO ARMY

PRIME MINISTER'S ASSURANCE

The following question regarding the meat supplied to the troops at the front was addressed to the Prime Minister i;i the House by Mr. W. 11. Field:

' "Whether it is true, as reported to the member for Otnki by a.number of farmers, come of whom have bojs at the front, that a regular business, on a conKideralile scale, has for some linn> past boon, and is being, carried on in tho purchase of 6econd and third-class stock, which is destined for consumption by our soldiers in the_firiug-]ine, and that n largo 'quantity of tifis inferior meat is in cold storage at tho present time In the City of Wellington; and, if ho has no know ledga of th« matter, will ho at once have exhaustive inquiries made as to the truth or otherwise of the report; and, if it is found to be true, will he at once put an nnd to the; traffic in question, ;,nd take such other steps as he may consider proper tinder the circumstances?"

Tho Right Hon. W. P. Massev (Prime Minister) replied: "The War Office authorities only utilise tl'.e best grades of beef for use with troops on active service or .in training. The quality of the beel shipped for use with our troops on active service is the same an that beini? 'used in training camps in New Zealand' which i<j open to inspection by ,-ny one especially interested'. Inferior quality beef is sold in Great Britain for consumption by the civil population, and there is a keen demand for it. seeing that though dot of hieli duality, it is perfectly' wholesome food. The exact quantity in store in the City of Wellington at the present tinje is known, and it is not large. This portion of our meat export trade is under careful supervision, and . adequate ot6pa aro taken to prevent any carcasses not of sufficiently, good quality fo consti, rate wholesome food ms.ierial'being utjl. lsed-either for export or for consumption within New Zealand. '