ARMY MEAT CONTRACT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 27

ARMY MEAT CONTRACT.

DOMINIONS’ DISADVANTAGE. A QUESTION OF PRINCIPLE. (Fnoit Oub Own Corhuspoxdents.) LONDON, June 1. , A week or two ago a cable from the Meloourne correspondent of The Times drew attention to the dissatisfaction felt in Australia over the contract for meat placed by the War Office in November of last year. Mr tv. Karri-Davies now writes to tlie same journal giving some details of this contract which, as explained by him, would seem to be in direct contradiction to the spirit of Imperial co-operation which is being fostered at the present time. *>n November 3 last year tenders were called for 1,849,000 tins (12c/) of preserved corned beef. The date for return was fixed as December 11. The following is an exfrom the tender form supplied by tha War Office: —“Frozen meat to be entirely excluded. Samples (five tins cf each description offered) should be submitted to the Assistant Director of Supplies, etc., Deptford, S.E.B, to reach that office at the same time as this tender is due for return. Schedule not to he altered by contractor, lenders may not be considered if complete information bo not given at the tune of tendering, or if the particulars and data (if any) asked for in the schedule be not fully filled in.’’ *‘lt will be seen,” says Mr Karri-Davies. “that the time allowed be:ween the calling for and return of tenders made it impossible for samples to be prepared in Australia and New Zealand and delivered within the stipulated time. In other words, the terms of tender were such that it was impossible for Australia and New Zealand to tender and comply with the conditions as laid down by the War Office. I am informed further that 33 firms on the approved Mar Office list were asked to quote on the tender form from which 1 havo given extracts. This list included the Australian and New Zealand packers. Unfortunately, the lowest price quoted by a dominion firm was alxiut 20 per cent, higher than that at which the contract was placed. “It is worth noting that it was impossible for a dominion firm to make an offer in terms of the tender. If the War Office accepted a tender in terms different from their own conditions it would be very unfair to others who submitted tenders and who had complied with these conditions. 1 have no quar-ei with my friends the Americans who supply our army with beef; but I do think the Army Council should see that our dominions are given the same opportunity to tender. In any case, it is hardly cous stent for tin* British Government to expend three million pounds in sending our sons and daughters to the dominions and to teach them how to raise cattle and sheep if it is not going to give them the same chance to sell their produce as is given the Americans. A REMARKABLE DISPARITY. “It is necessary to make much investigation to try to find out. why America is able to supply corned beef 20 per cent, cheaper to our army than the Empire can supply it to itself. The Produce Market Report, published in London on the date the tenders were returned, shows the remarkable fact that corned beef 61b tins (first grade) were quoted per dozen firs from Noith and South America at, 30s to 355. Australian and New Zealand quoted 25s to 30s. In other words, Australian and New Zealand corned beef in bib tins, instead of being 20 per cent, higher than American, was about 17 per cent, lower than American. It is true that the tonnage involved in this beef erder was not large only about 619 tons—and the money involved is approximately about £30.0C0. bur these facts are not all that must be considered. It is a question of principle. In this particular instance the War Office bought 619 ions of meat and 206 tons of tin plate. If this 619 tons of beef had been packed in 61b fins instead of 12cz tins, 116 tons of tin "plate would have made the tins, and the taxpayer would have had to pay for 90 tons less of tin plate. The money saved could have bought more beef; besides, ihe order could then have been placed at a considerable saving within the Empire.”