MEAT QUESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1920, Page 1

MEAT QUESTION

TELEGRAMS FROM HIGH COMMISSIONER. WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. Hie Prime Minister has received the following telegram from the High Com-

missioner, dated London, February 17th:— With reference to your telegram of February 9th, I am informed by the Board of Trade that the following quail tities of meat were landed in the United Kingdom during the four months, October, 1919, to January, 1920:

The figures quoted above represent the following percentages of the total imports:— Per Cent. United States 2.50 South America 38.7 Australia 20.7 New Zealand 33.6 The Prime Minister has also received the following telegram from the High Gominissiner: —

It was reported in the Press here that the Imperial Government had completed the purchase of the whole of the Patagonian meat output for 1920, amounting to 1,250,000 carcases, at 5d to 6d per lb. I approached the Board of Trade, who informed me that no contracts have been entered, into, but that the Board of Trade are purchasing Patagonian meat under arrangements made in 1917, whereby they agreed to purchase quantities as they could provide tonnage for. The newspaper paragraphs apparently are due to the fact that the allocation of tonnage for the present season has just now been made. This is taken from the Argentine trade, and it said to be 5000 tons more than last year.

Mutton and Beef. Lamb. Tons Tons. From U.S.A. . 4,720 97 From S. America ... 61,840 13,449 From Australia . 18,402 21,719 From New Zealand 12,292 52,981