§ 25. Sir RICHARD COOPERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Queensland Government has recently passed an Act fixing the price of meat for the Britihs Government at 4 7/8d. per lb., whilst the price of meat for consumption in Queensland, is fixed by the same Act at 3¼d. per lb.; was the Colonial Office consulted before the Act was passed; and can he explain why a Colonial Government charges, 50 per cent. more than market price for meat for British and Colonial troops during the War,
Mr. RUNCIMANMy right hon. Friend has requested me to answer this question. The hon. Baronet is under some misapprehension, as no Act fixing the price of frozen meat sold to the British Government has been passed by the Queensland Government. The price was the subject of negotiation and compares favourably with that paid in other Australian States and is not above but below 1339 what could have been obtained in an open market. The Queensland Government have an agreement for the supply of a comparatively small quantity of meat for local consumption at 3¼d. per pound, but this is fresh meat and is delivered under such conditions as make any comparison between the two prices quite misleading.