MEAT PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 148, 24 June 1915, Page 7

MEAT PROBLEM

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. EFFORTS TO BELIEVE AUSTRALASIAN CONGESTION. LONDON. 23rd June. Replying to Mi 1 . Thome's questions in the House of Commons. Mr. Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, said that the Government was making every effort to "remove the accumulation of stocks of meat in Australia and New Zealand as quickly as possible. Two vessels ' had been sent to New Zealand, at the Imperial Government's expense, to relieve the situation. Some of the" refrigerated vessels were being' used as storeships at ports where the cold storage was insufficient, but not at London. The Government was neither asking nor fixing the price. The meat was being sold on commission in accordance with tho ordinary market practice. Mr. _ Thome asked if the Advisory Committee had drawn up a scheme for the sale of commandeered meat without regard to the nation's needs, but solely to retain certain firm's (fcontiol over certain brands. Mr. Runciman said that the question involved charges of a grave breach of public duty against Mr. T. Mackenzie. New Zealand High Commissioner, and Sir T. B. Robinson, Queensland AgentGeneral, who were distinguished public servants, and he did not question their probity. Mr. Runciman said he was satisfied that Mr. Nekon'a business interests did not preclude him giving independent advice. No complaints had been made to the Board of Trade about the ' way the sales of meat were conducted on the market, and the board was satisfied with the arrangements. The Australian and New Zealand Governments had assented to the procedure.