ARMY MEAT CONTRACTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9644, 20 January 1903, Page 2

ARMY MEAT CONTRACTS.

« i [t'er Press Association.- 1 CHRISICHUKOH, this day. ' Ihe Premier holds very strongly that < . the colonies should receive speci.il con- ' '.sideratioa m. connection with the army < meat contracts. The following telegrams 1 emphasising this view were despatched i during the past lew days: "Jan, I.— ( "To the officer commanding m the Trans- 1 vaal.— l sun not at present aware what i ■ response luis been received to the adver- •' tisemeiit for intuit contract, but would i suggest that the contract 'be split up < amongst the colonies, who are m a posi- i tion to supply." . "Jan. 10.— To the Premier of Now South \ Wales.— l took action a fortnight ago i : respecting the meat contracts, urging on , the acting-Secretary of State the claims ( lof British colonies, and also communi- c cated direct with the General commanding i jin South Africa. Tenders close on Feb- ( : ruary 3. There is a condition m the ; contract that supplies are to be received j | from British colonies, but the require- , ; meats are so involved and indefinite as , ;to almost preclude the colonies' meat , i companies from tendering direct." j | "January 17.— T0 Mr Joseph Chamberlain, Pretoria, re South African 'military meat contract. — Under existing conditions it is impossible for anj'one m New Zea- \ land or Australia to tender. Foiins of . contract cannot be obtained. Ample | notice has not been given, as by the ex- j pressed desire of the Conference of Pre- ( miers .should be the cafe. When the . General commanding .sent authority for . tenders to be advertised full particulars ■ and details should also have been sent, so that intending tenderers might know i what they were tendering for. As a matter of fact the points of delivery had not at that time been determined. ' The out- ' look at present points to the contract going to the Argentine. I strongly re- ' commend an extension of time for the ' tenders, and that forms of contract with ' full particulars and details be sent to ' Australia and New Zealand." - ' The Premier has received the following message from the Governor, dated Jan- ' nary 16 : "To the Premier, Christchurch. \ — The Governor has received a cable from the Admiral that Mr William Hogarth, ' victualling store officer of the Admiralty, left Sydney on Saturday m the Warriinoo '. for Wellington, and asks that every fac- ' ility may be given him. including a pass on the Government railways. His business is to ascertain the resources of the '■ colony for Admiralty purposes. — Ranfurly.'"