§ 39. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the prices now being paid f.o.b. in the Colonies for Christchurch lambs (2's and 8's), Southland lambs, 38–40 lbs., Gear Co. M. lambs, Australian lambs, 40 lbs., Springfield tegs, Australian ox hind-quarters beef, Australian ox crops quarters beef; the prices asked by his agents on Smithfield for the last week in August for these goods; the cost of freight; and the cost of London storage?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe form in which the accounts are rendered to the Board of Trade by the Australian and New Zealand Governments do not enable me to state exactly the f.o.b. cost of the respective qualities and weights named in the question, and even if they did any comparison, such as that suggested by the form of the question, would be misleading. Information as to the prices paid in the Smithfield Market appear regularly in the circulars published by the trade. The rate of freight varies according to the port of shipment and class of vessel, while the cost of storage in London depends on the length of time during which it is stored before going into consumption. This varies a good deal.
§ 40. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade what prices the Government agents were asking Smithfield buyers for New Zealand and Australian hind and fore-quarters beef and crops on Thursday, 16th September last; whether he is aware that these prices were considerably in excess of those at which American and Argentine firms were on that day and subsequent days selling a superior article, namely, chilled beef from South America; whether he is aware that from 16th September onwards Government frozen beef has ceased to be quoted in the trade journals, the word "nominal" being used to describe the price demanded by the Government agents, and that, in consequence of this price, little Government frozen meat has been sold on Smithfield Market since 16th September; and 1192 whether he will now consider the advisability of adding to his Advisory Committee a representative of the class who consume the bulk of the frozen meat imported into this country?
Mr. RUNCIMANI am informed that, on the 16th September, the Government agents sold Australian hind beef at 7d. per lb. ex store, including fourteen days' free storage. On the same date chilled hinds were sold at 7⅛d. and 7¼d. per lb., this price not including any free storage. Actual prices of sales of Government meat since the date mentioned have been included in published lists. The word "nominal" is generally understood to indicate that the transactions are so limited that they are not a reliable indication of market value. With regard to the last part of the question, I cannot see any advantage to be gained by adopting the suggestion of my hon. Friend.