H.—3B

1920. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES. REVIEW OF OPERATIONS COVERING THE PERIOD FROM THE 1st APRIL, 1919, TO THE 31st MARCH, 1920, INCLUDING AN APPENDIX SHOWING RESULTS TO THE 30th JUNE, 1920.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Sir,— Wellington, 30th June, 1020. I have the honour to submit a review of the operations of the Department of Imperial Government Supplies from the Ist April, .1919, to the 31st March, 1920. FROZEN MEAT. The revised schedule of prices agreed to in October, 1916, by the Imperial Board of Trade and the freezing companies concerned has remained operative. fit October, 1919, instructions were received from the Imperial Government that the system of telescoping carcases of mutton and lamb should be discontinued. In December, 1919, the Imperial Board of Trade advised that in order to relieve the congestion, existing in New Zealand freezing-stores it was proposed to ship considerable quantities of New Zealand lamb to the United States of America on Imperial Government account. Subsequently definite advice was received of sales effected to American purchasers, and up to the 31st March, 1920, two shipments had been made in accordance with the Imperial Govern men t's instructions viz., 27,290 carcases per s.s. " Northumberland," and 251,798 carcases per s.s. " Armagh," which, steamers sailed on the 13th and 27th March respectively for New York and Boston. The total quantities of meat purchased and shipped from the Ist April, 1919, to the 31st March, 1920, were— Beef (quarters) . . . . . . . . . . 432,784 Mutton (carcases) .. .. .. ..3,906,751 Lamb (carcases) .. .. .. .. 3,761,166 Other meat (in 60 lb. carcases) . . . . . . 31,922 The total quantities of meat purchased, and shipped from the inception of the requisition (3rd March, 1915) to the 31st March, 1920, were its follows: Beef (quarters) . . . . . . . . 2,885,043 Mutton (carcases) .. .. .. .. 12,299,080 Lamb (carcases) .. .. .. .. .13,625,510 Other meat (in 6011). carcases) .. .. .. 286,471 The total payments for meat to the 31st March, 1920, including storage and advances, amounted to £44,344,503, which was distributed as under : £ .£ Auckland .. .. .. 3,900,627 Poverty Bay .. .. .. 4,729,446 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. 4,663,971 Taranaki ..' . . . . . . 1 ,748,384 Wellington .. .. .. 13,252,319 North Island .. .. 28,294,747 Marlborough .. .. .. 307,958 Nelson .. .. .. .. 191,134 Canterbury .. . . . . 9,845,052 Otago .. .. .. .. 3,077,235 Southland .. .. .. 2,628,377 South Island .. .. 16,049,750 Grand total ~ , , £44,344,503

1-H. 38.