COMMANDEERED PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1917, Page 6

COMMANDEERED PRODUCE.

KH3tSRD OF TRANSACTIONS. In tlie course of hig Budget Statement the Minister of Finance gave the following details as to produce supplied to the Imperial Government:— FROZEN MEAT. The handling of frozen meat began on March 3. 1!H« ; the total shipments amounted to 1,313,748 quarters beef, 5,27'!),408 carcases mutton. €,<68,023 carcases lamb; and tiie payments, £16,800,-

Tho prices which had been current from the date of the inception of the scheme were increased as from October 20, 1910, as follows: Mutton and lamb, 7 /sd per pound iiierease; beef, y 4 d per pound increase.

Tho number of insulated steamers despatched during the twelve months ended March 31 last was seventy-six, compared with eighty-one £or the previous year. SHEEP-SKINS AND HIDES. The purchase of sheep-skins and hides commenced on February 1, 1917. The number of sheep-skins purchased Was 213,202, at a co.st of £GO,SS3. Hides and calf-skins arc being valued, purchased, and shipped for the Imperial Government. No transactions had taken place up to March 31, 1917. WOOIi.

Early in November, lOliG, the Imperial Government advised that it was proposed to requisition all wool comprising the New Zealand 1018-17 clip, and aiter consultation 'with representative growers and other persons connected with the Wool industry a price was agreed upon which represented an advance of 55 per cent, on pre-war prices.

The export of wool was prohibited on November 18, 1910. and on December "21 following, a proclamation was issued requisitioning all wool of the I'9l>G-17 clip. ■No organisation or machinery existed to give cil'ect to tho requisition of the imperial Government, anil the Minister of Agriculture appointed an Advitiory Committee to deal with all matters affecting the preliminary details and assist tho Denartment.

The scouring of low-grade wool and the purchase and fellmongering of sheepskins on behalf of flie Imperial Government have lieen undertaken.

The results of the operations from December 1, 1010, up to March 31, 1917, were: Total number of bales valued, •181,388; number of "bales shipped, 210,030; number of bales paid for, 399,529; total payments made, £9,315,924. CHEESE. The arvangp.ment entered into with the Imperial Government under which pne-third of the production of cheese for the season 1915-10 was made available for Army purposes was completed on October 1, H>lfi. The quantity shipped was 183,502 crates, and the total payments :£9irT4S.

On January 16, 1017, the export of cheese was prohibited, and arrangements were made with the factories for the purchase on behalf of the Imperial Government of all first-grade and secondgrade cheese available for export; the price nvas fixed at 9|d per pound for first-grade and per pound for sec-ond-grade cheese. -Satisfactory arrangements for payment of the cheese and for the storage were made with the Imprial Government. During tho lfllfi-17 season the shipments totalled 153.545 crates, and.the payments £1,547.403. Owin<r to tho shortage of shipping facilities in the early part of the season very heavy accumulations of cheese resulted, and it became necessary to keep much of the supply in stores which were more or less unsuitable for the purpose. To meet this difficulty special representations were made to the Imperial Government through the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, with the result that large shipments were provided for during March and April, 1017.

As a means of cheeking any possible risk of deterioration, arrangements have been entered into with the overseas shippin:; companies under 'which the cheese is now being carried at a reduced temperature. GENERAL. ' The purchase of scheclitc started on September 20. 1915; 350 tons were shipped, for which £67/t'SO was paid. The total payments made to producers on behalf of the Imperial Government from March 3, 1915, to March 31, 1917, amounted to £'27,SID, 110-