HC Deb 05 July 1915 vol 73 cc6-7
2. Mr. WILLIAM THORNE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the American Beef Trust have lately acquired several meat works and sources of supply in Australasia; whether he is aware that, though large profits are made out of the English people, no Income Tax is paid by these companies; whether, at the present moment, the Government are buying beef and mutton off the American companies and their agents in Australasia, importing the same into this country, and then paying the American companies a commission of 2 per cent. to sell the same to the British people; and, if not, will he state the name of the firm who act as agents on the Government's behalf for the sale of the surplus goods acquired from the American-owned or controlled freezing works in Australasia?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)

With regard to the first part of this question, I am informed that one American company has been operating freezing works in Australia for about a year past, and that other American companies have in the past bought meat in Australia on the open market; as to the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; as to the third part, all the meat produced at Australian and New Zealand meat works and available for export has been acquired from the meat works at prices agreed and fixed by the Australian and New Zealand Governments on behalf of His Majesty's Government, all previous contracts for sale entered into by the meat works being cancelled; the beef so imported is appropriated for the use of the Allied Forces, and the mutton and lamb not required for military purposes is, as I have already informed my hon. Friend, put on the market through the firms who in the past have been in the habit of handling the various brands, and is sold on terms of commission more favourable to the Government than those previously prevailing; as to the last part, if my hon. Friend will inform me of the brand of meat to which he refers I shall be glad to give him the name of the agent through whom that brand is being sold.