§ 4. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that 1485 the British, Irish, and Australian Meat Company, Limited, promoted a scheme for a reducton in the price of meat; and if he can state the reason the Treasury withdrew their sanction to the company's arrangement for providing a large supply of British and Irish meat at a permanently reduced price?
§ Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)The issue of 10,000 £l shares by this Company was sanctioned in May, 1915, but until a few weeks ago only 168 shares had been issued. On the publication of an appeal for subscriptions for the unissued shares in May last, sanction to the issue was reconsidered in view of the altered conditions now prevailing. The Committee on Fresh Issues of Capital after consultation with the Food Controller recommended that in the public interest sanction should be withdrawn, and the Treasury acted on their advice.