"NO STORAGE"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10509, 10 February 1920, Page 6

"NO STORAGE"

STEAMERS THAT CANNOT DISCHARGE.

With reference to tho views advanced by the deputation which waited on the Prime Minister yesterday regarding the meat position, the following extract from the Bristol "Time* and Mirror*' of December 10th throws some light on the position at Home:— "In the course of a lengthy reply in yesterday's Parliamentary debates, Mr McCurdy (Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry for Food) informed Mr W. Thome: That at the present time, at various ports, there are eight steamers in course of discharge with storage provided for all their cargoes of meat; that there there are four steamers berthed with cargoes for which there is not at present any storage accommodation; that there are seven other steamers not j 7 et berthed. Ho agrees that the frozen meat in store is approximately 100,000 tons, and the arrivals during Deconiber and January w'ill be approximately 57,000 and 60,000 tons respectively. The total consumption of meat at tho present time varies between 90,000 and 110,000 tons per month, of which imported meat is not less than 30,000 tons per month. The quantity of meat in the stores in Australia arid New Zealand is expected to be about 120,000 tons on December 31st. The only imported meat purchased by the Government, says Mr McCurdy in reply to another question, at the present time is Australasian mutton and lamb. The cost of this meat to the Ministry for Food is lOjd per lb, and it is sold at this price to the wholesaler. The meat is cut up and sold at varying prices, according to the different joints, but the average price 'is approximately Is Oid per lb."