FROZEN MEAT

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 22 June 1917, Page 4

FROZEN MEAT

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT

ASSUMES OWNERSHIP.

A very important communication has been received by the Government from the High Commissioner, regarding the large stocks of meat held in cold store in the Dominion awaiting shipment. A statement as to the effect of "the cablegram was made by the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald on Wednesday.

"Owing to the shortage of shipping," he said, "producers and others became anxious as to the position. I enteired -into, .negotiations jwitH the War Office about the -end of April, asking it if it could see its way to take over the ownership of meat in store, and for any extended period pay insurance and additional storage. During my recent visit to Australia the matter was carried on by the Hon. Arthur M. Myers, and the War Office proposed making a payment of £2,000,000 on account of the meat in store. This did not appear to be satisfactory, and on my return 'I entered into further negotiations, with the consent of the Government, suggesting that the Imperial Government should assume the position of ownership, that it should pay insurance after a certain date, and also pay for storage for an extended period.

"I have now received a cablegram from the High Commissioner, in replyto my 1/st cablegram, stating that, after consideration, the War Office has decided to assume the ownership of all the meat in store in the Dominion, no payment to be made until f.0.b., and also agreeing after a certain date to pay insurance and additional storage. The Government and the freezing companies have accepted these terms, and foregone all claims under the £2,000,000 scheme first proposed."