§ 2. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether in view of the fact that his Department purchased 3,150 tons of corned beef at an average price of 8¼d. per pound, he had 237 noticed that in the monthly Reports of the "Australian Pastoral Review" on the London canned meat market 35s. per dozen (six pound tins) is mentioned as the price for July for private buyers for best class goods, 45s. for the conclusion of August, 46s. to 48s. for September and October, while for November and December the Report stated that buying on Government account was not then so active, but available stocks were reduced to a minimum and held at such extreme rates that the home trade declined to make purchases; whether, in the matter of boiled meat, the Government were reported during October to be paying 60s. for six pound meat against 45s. charged to private customers; and whether he will give the names of the principal firms from whom this 3,150 tons were purchased and state upon whose advice these prices were paid?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)The average price of 8¼d. per pound, 49s. 6d. per case, includes large quantities bought during September, October, November, and December, when market prices, not mentioned in my hon. Friend's question, were quoted at from 48s. to 52s. per case. The market quotations in the "Pastoral Review" are in all cases dated about six weeks prior to the date of issue of the "Review" in Australia, and are not available when tenders are under consideration. The Department invites the widest competition, and is satisfied that reasonable prices not exceeding fair market values have been paid, having regard to the fact that the Admiralty buys the best quality obtainable and brands which regularly fetch a price above the market quotations even for the best quality. The principal firms accepted for corned meat were: Yuills Limited, Ellis Bedford, C. J. Piggott, Libby, McNeill and Libby, Ltd., Corneillc David and Co., Gordon Woodroffe and Co., W. Weddel and Co., Ltd., Morris Beef Co., Ltd., Dempster, Paterson and Co., R. B. Green and Co., Ltd., Smithfield and Argentine Meat Co., Ltd. No boiled meat has been bought by the Admiralty.