WAR OFFICE CONTRACTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 730, 1 August 1929, Page 7

WAR OFFICE CONTRACTS

SUPPLIES OF MEAT POSITION OF DOMINIONS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. An explanation of the methods of the British War Office in calling tenders for its annual supplies of meat was given in the House of Representatives today by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, in answer to a question from Mr. W. J. Poison (Stratford). Mr. Poison asked the Minister whether the Government had any information regarding the War Office contracts for meat, referred to in recent cable news, and whether any diligent steps had been taken to obtain a share of such contracts for New Zealand. The last contract for one million pounds weight of meat went to Argentine at prices that apparently would have been remunerative to New Zealand cow-beef growers. "The Government has, through the Meat Board, information regarding the meat contracts referred to,” replied the Minister. “When the War Office called for tenders, tender forms were sent to the High Commissioner, and to the London manage)' of the Meat Board, who cabled the essential details to the various freezing companies in New Zealand. “The freezing companies were then able to decide whether they would tender or not. A standard form of tender is available at the Meat Board’s Wellington office for the information of prospective tenderers. “The War Office does not disclose either the name of the successful tenderer or the amount of the tender. It is, however, the policy of his Majesty's Government, when considering tenders, to give preference to Home and Empire produce, where the difference in price is not too great.”