§ 4. Colonel NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the reasons for the difference prevailing between the prices of imported frozen meat from Australia, New Zealand, and the Argentine, respectively; and whether he proposes to take any steps to equalise the prices ruling for importations of meat from these countries?
§ Mr. PRETYMANAll imported frozen meat from Australia and New Zealand is 1787 the property of His Majesty's Government, and, in respect of that portion of such meat which has been put on the market, instructions have been given to their selling agents to keep wholesale prices as low as possible. Argentine chilled beef and frozen mutton and lamb are, on the other hand, the property of private owners. I hope that when supplies come along more abundantly from Australia and New Zealand the result will be a reduction of prices, and I am doing my utmost to increase the importation of meat from those countries.