MEAT IN STORE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3116, 21 June 1917, Page 4

MEAT IN STORE

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT ASSUMES OWNERSHIP. A very important communication has been received by the Government from the High Commissioner regarding tho large stocks of meat held iu cold store in tho Dominion'awaiting shipment. A statement as to the effect of the cablegram was made by the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald yesterday. "Owing to the shortage of shipping," he said, "producers and others became anxious as to the. position. I entered into negotiations with the War Office about the end of April, asking it if it could see its way to take over the ownership of the 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 tho 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 bo satisfactory, and on my return I entered into further negotiations, with the consent of the Government, suggesting that tho Imperial Government should assumo 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, iu reply to my last cablegram, stating that, after consideration, the AVar Office has decided to assume tho ownership of all the meat in store iu tho Dominion, no payment to bo made until f.0.b., and also agreeing, after a certain date to pay insurance and additional 6torage. The Government and the freezing companies havo accepted these terms, and foregone all claims under the .£2,000,000 schem? first proposed."