MEAT FOR ARMY

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1932, Page 11

MEAT FOR ARMY

CONTRACT FOR AUSTRALIA.

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

(Recd. August 13, 11 a.m.) OTTAWA, August 12.

Australia has secured the British army frozen meat contract, amounting to nearly 1000 head of cattle a week for six months, from next September to March. The prices are considerably above the present levels, and will have an important uplift in the Australian meat trade.

The Angliss Company’s share of the contract amounts to four to five hundred head of cattle a week. Mr Angliss received the cabled news from London, this afternoon, and believes that Borthwicks and other companies are also sharing. He is gratified, as he understands the new contract went to Australia on a purely competitive, not sentimental, basis, Argentine tenders being higher. The contract will help to liquidate stocks of frozen beef and mutton in London and Australia, and also on the water. Even if the contractors lose money towards the end of the period, in consequence of the expected general rise in prices, following the Ottawa Conference, Mr Angliss says 'the contractors won’t mind, because it will be so much the better for Australia. The prices are such as to ensure a profitable business in the early stages of delivery, and represent the first ray of- sunshine for months.

The arrangement is to supply also some thousands of carcases of sheep, the British Government having the right to decide to take mutton instead of beef, if mutton is lower. The first deliveries, commencing in September, can probably be made ex-store in London.