§ 34. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that his present system of selling New Zealand meat at fixed prices, not market prices, acts prejudicially to the meat supply in the poorer districts of London; that small London butchers are unable to secure New Zealand lambs, which are retained by the Government agents and sold to a restricted class of customers on a basis frequetly of favouritism; that the bulk of such lambs are consumed in the West End or middle-class suburbs; that the public get no benefit through the foods being sold under market value at Smithfield; and whether he will direct that what surplus meat his Department has for sale shall be offered in the market at market prices on Free Trade principles?
Mr. RUNCIMANAs I have informed my hon. Friend on previous occasions, the instructions given to the Board's selling agents are that the trade in this meat should continue in the same channels as it did before the War. I am satisfied that the various sections of the trade are receiving their share of the present reduced supplies in substantially the same proportions as during peace time. The selling agents have also been instructed to keep their prices at a level which will 911 have a moderating effect upon the upward trend of prices, and I am of opinion that this is in the national interest.