NO SPECULATION

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue XC, 7 October 1915, Page 4

NO SPECULATION

MEAT MARKET RUMOURS. A reply to statements regarding the meat that had been sent Home under contract with the Imperial authorities was made by the Prime Minister yesterday. Mr. Massey said he had received acable from the High Commissioner in regaxd to the matter. The Hon. T. Mackenzie stated that he had continued to make enquiries, aaid had found that all New Zealand meat was being sold by agents nominated by New Zealand shippers. Every one of the agents had entered into an agreement pledging them to the Board of Trade to sell only to distributors and retailers. The agents furnished to the British Government the buyer's name and the prices realised regularly on the proper form provided for the purpose. All the selling agents' Teturns were open for inspection. The British Government was satisfied that all the agents were acting in good faith. There had been no change practically in prices of New Zealand meat during the past four or "five months, and agents reported that the steps taken to eliminate speculators had been completely successful. Prices at lvhich the Home Government -were selling New Zealand meat were published weekly and bonafide buyers could obtain supplies at prices quoted direct from New Zealand shippers' a,gents, who wore selling meat for the British Government without the intervention of third parties. Selling agents met the Board of Trade from time to time to report progress and to arrange the best way of distributing supplies available for trade. Sir H. Robinson had no interest, so far as /could be ascertaine-i, in meat transactions there.