§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the following statement in the "Morning Post" of 16th instant is correct:—
English meat is to be almost, if not entirely, superseded in the Navy, the change being adopted for economical reasons. Negotiations are understood to have been completed by the Contract and Purchase Depot at Whitehall, with Transatlantic contractors for supplying thousands of pounds' worth of American beef, 1100 and its distribution as rations to naval seamen is announced to take place at an early date;and, if so, what is the annual saving calculated upon in this transaction?
§ MR. TREVELYANAmerican salt beef has been used in the Navy since 1870, in the proportion of one-third to two-thirds beef cured at Deptford. After 10 years' trial no complaints have ever been made of this meat. It is as good, or better, than that cured at Deptford Victualling Yard, and costs on an average 27 per cent less. Under these circumstances, the Lords of the Admiralty thought they had no choice but to give up curing at Deptford; and the saving on the change is calculated at £5,000 a-year, and that though we pay 25 per cent over the ordinary price, in order to secure the very best pieces.