GENERAL CABLED

Grey River Argus, 18 December 1920, Page 3

GENERAL CABLED

TRADE DURING THE WAR.

GOVERNMENT STATEMENT.

LONDON, December 16. The Treasury has issued a White Paper dealing with the accounts of Government Departments and services in assisting the food supply and promoting the continuance of tTadc during the war. The Ministry of Food from its incep tion to 31 March, 1920 shows an estimated net profit .of £912,312. The original instruction -was that the Ministry should be sfelf -supporting wiftiout making a profit. On a turnover approaching one thousand millions, this was les^i than one-tenth of one per cent. Purchases of frozen meat to Ist March, .1919, amounted to over £197.---000,000 on which "a profit was urade was 4.45 per cent. Purchases of Australian zinc und concentrates to 31st MaTch, 1919, were valued at £1,488,198. Tho Wheat Commission expended in three years to 31st August, 1919, on purchases, freight and charges £514,---774,574. The net loss on the trading account was £87,219,246, which represents approximately the cost of selling the" loaf at ninepencc.