BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 19655, 4 October 1922, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

RESULTS OF FOOD CONTROL A bl6e book (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON. October 2. A Blue Book nA Government trading to March 31, 1921, states that the Ministry of Food frommts inception in 1917 to its cessation i™ 1921 spent £809,013,396 on foodstuffs including £206,526.849 on frozen meat, making a profit on the latter of £5.663.559. The Wheat Commission in the same period spent £757.614,968 •including losses on cargoes and ships at sea. making a net loss of £152,212,034 which represents approximately the outlay on the bread subsidy. A note in connection with frozen meat ■hues that- a profit of £3.000,000 was made an Australasian 1919-20 meat whereas 192021 involved a loss of a corresponding amount. The whole stock of Australian and New Zealand beef was sold to September 1920 to 3 contractor who intended to dispose of a considerable portion in the Continental markeu It subsequently became impossible thus to dispose of it and the Treasury sanctioned large concessions to the contractor in 1921 with, the result that the net amount realised for stocks was Very materially reduced. THE STEEL INDUSTRY. HEAVY LOSSES LAST YEAR, LONDON, October 2. (Received October 3, 8.10 pan.) The United .Steel Companies, Limited, the largest steel enterprise in Britain, lost £505,431 last- year. The figures indicate the critical condition of the steel industry SOUTH WALES MINERS SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES LONDON, October 2. (Received October 3, 8.10 p.m.) Earl Buxton, chairman of the South Wales Goal Conciliation Board, on the question of subsistence allowances for lower paid men, conceded the heads of families a maximum of 7/2 daily and single men 6/8. The owners resisted the claims on the ground that the economic position of the industry does not justify further burdens. THE BEVAN CASE. CONFIDING COLLEAGUES. LONDON. October 2. (Received October 3, 8.10 pun.) Greenside, a director of the City Eqiritible, giving evidence in the Bevan case, raid that at a committee meeting of the »ard in November. 1921. in which only ue and Bevan were present, it was unanimously resolved to give Bevan sole authority to deal with the company’s investments and cash balances. Bevan at a subsequent meeting admitted that the company’s investments were unusual and he assumed the main responsibility for them. Nevertheless he declares that the company was solvent.