§ 7. Mr. WINGasked the President of the Board of Trade if ho is aware of the statement of Mr. Burton, Minister of Finance, Railways and Harbours, South Africa, to the effect that he had requested the High Commissioner to press upon the Imperial Government the fact that increased freight facilities would procure more and cheaper meat for England; and, if so, are any steps being taken with that object in view?
Mr. HARCOURTThe utilisation of the cattle resources of South Africa has for some time engaged the attention of the Board of Trade and the Department of the High Commissioner of the Union. What insulated space there is on the ships usually trading to South Africa is being used to its full capacity, and there are no ships that could usefully be diverted from other routes. My hon. Friend will be aware of the difficulties which at present attend the building of new ships.
8. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Home production of sausage skins is utterly inadequate to meet the demand, and that owing to the prohibition of the import of such goods their price has increased, with the result of restricting still further the sources of the supply of cheap food; whether the object of the restriction of imports is to prevent, as far as possible, the rise in the price of food; and, if so, in view of the fact that the prohibition of this article defeats the object of the restriction of imports, whether he will remove the prohibition?
Mr. HARCOURTMy information is to the effect that the supply of sausage skins 499 in this country is at present adequate, and T am not prepared to remove the prohibition.
§ 12. Mr. WINGasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received representations from the Houghton-le-Spring Board of Guardians, and other similar authorities in the North of England, calling his attention to the increased cost of maintaining the poor, which results in additional taxation on the ratepayer, and their appeal to the Government to facilitate the cheapening of the necessaries of life; and, if so, what steps are proposed with that object?
Mr. HARCOURTa Committee has been appointed to go into the whole question of the increase of price of necessaries, and I have therefore caused copies of the representations made to me to be forwarded to the Committee for their consideration.
§ 13. Mr. BYRNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a number of victuallers' shops have been closed down in Ireland owing to a shortage of meat; if he is aware that cattle has now reached the price of 8d. per pound live weight, which is equivalent to 1s. 2d. per pound dead weight; if he will cause an inquiry to be made as to whether the increase in price and the shortage in supplies have been caused by an undue amount of imported meat being hoarded in cold storage in England; if, to obviate further speculation in the people's food supply, the Government will, as in the recent wool market, curtail dealings except under Government supervision; and if he will take the necessary steps to prevent shippers and others making any undue profit on food supplies during the War?
Mr. HARCOURTI am aware that the prices of meat and cattle have reached a level considerably above the normal. The information at present in my possession does not indicate that the rise is to any material degree the result of speculative dealings, or that an undue amount of imported meat is being detained in cold storage. I am, however, transmitting a copy of the hon. Member's question to the Committee which is investigating the causes of the rise of price of necessaries, and it would be well if the hon. Member would put any evidence in his possession before that Committee. In the event of 500 the result showing that prices are being artificially forced up by market manipulation, I should not hesitate to take or propose drastic administrative or legislative action.