IMPERIAL SUPPLIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 14

IMPERIAL SUPPLIES

NEARLY FORTY-SIX MILLIONS PAID FOR PRODUCE. One of the most interesting departments controlled by the Prime Minister is the Department of Imperial Government Supplies. It is through this department that the British authorities purchase produce in this country and pay the producers. The department was established in 1915, and up to the present time it has made payments amounting to not less 'than £45,769,903. Mr Massoy stated to a Lyttelton Times reporter on Monday night that he expected that during this year. this total would be increased by between and £28,000,000, but he made the reservation: "If we can get the ships.". In reply to a question, he said that at present the shipping outlook was quite good, but that nobody could say when it would change. The following aro the products represented in the total of £45,769,903: Frozen meat ' £20,575,920 Wool : 15,966,784 Cheese (1915-16 season) 917,748 Cheese (1916-17 season) 3,295,514 Cheese (1917-18 season) 998,627 Butter (1917-18 season) 678,222 Scheelite ... 90,476 Sheepskins ... 612,141 Hides 512,458 Freezing companies' slipe wool ' 1.260,873 Other items '761,130 Total £45,769,903 The Prime Minister said that he had received good reports of 'this season's wool clip from experts. Approximately, 150,000 bales of the new season's wool had been valued, and current valuations continued to be particularly heavy. It was estimated that during January and February 140,000 and 130,000 bales respectively would bo submitted throughout the dominion, representing estimated payments for those months of £7,000,000. Of over 500,000. bales valued during the 1916-17 season only 35,000 remained at present unprovided with snipping space, and it was anticipated that those bales would bo shipped early in February. The purchase of sheepskins was being continued, at the direct request of the Imperial Government, but negotiations now had been opened with the Imperial authorities with a view to removing some of the anomalies under that requisition. Owing to increased cost of material, and in response to representations from fellmongers, the price for curing pelts had been increased from 3s to 3s 9d a dozen, and an all round rate of 2id per lb paid for sliping wool in respect of the previously existing rat-o of 2d per lb. with a minimum of 6d per skin, and some 20,000 calfskins had been exported to Australian tanners on behalf of tho Imperial 'Government, and arrangements were in hand for the shipment of a further 20,000 to the same destination during the present month. Applications had been received from Canada for calfskins from this dominion,_ but in view of Australian requirements it had not been possible to export to Canada. It was expected that this month and qarly in February the meat held in store would bo reduced by 500,000 freight carcases and leave on hand approximately only 100,000 freight carcases of last season's meat. Arrangements for the purchase of slipe wool from freezing companies were approaching finality, and a final draft of tho conditions governing tho purchase was being submitted to tho companies, with -a view to ascertaining whether it was now acceptable. The whole of last season's dairy produce had now either been shipped or was_ in courso of shipment, and it was anticipated that the whole of last season's wool would be provided for, and, as stated, only 100.000 carcases of old season's frozen meat left without shipping space.

THE MEAT TRADE.

FIXING RETAIL PRICES AT HOME. WELLINGTON, January 16.

Regarding the fixing of meat prices in tho United Kingdom, Mr Massey recently cabled t° tho High Commissioner asking him to inquire whether tho restrictions imposed also applied to tho Argentine meat. ■■ Sir Thomas Mackenzie replies : "With referenco to your telegram of January 9, the

fixing of retail prices applies equally to New Zealand and Argentine meat. Maximum wholesale prices navo been lixed lor nil meats, a difference being made between home-killed and imported. Irrespective of the- maximum wholesale prices, the retail prices must bo- based uii the actual wholesale cost, retailers being limited to a prolit of 2£d per lb, or 20 per cent., whichever is the less."