§ 42. Mr. YEOasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the present or last quoted price of Canterbury lamb in New Zealand, the landed cost of the last consignment which reached Great Britain, the commission paid to the importing house, the current wholesale market price, and the current retail price; and, having regard to the difference in price as between the farmer's price in New 1403 Zealand and that paid by the consumer in this country, whether he will now take steps to correct this difference in the interests of the wage earners?
Mr. ROBERTSMy hon. and gallant Friend has requested me to reply to this question. The Board of Trade purchase this lamb by the carcase at a cost of 6⅜d. per 1b. f.o.b. in New Zealand; its landed cost in the United Kingdom is 8d. per lb.; the importer's commission is 2 per cent.; the wholesaler's profit is limited to ½ d. per lb.; the expenses of the Department for administration, cost of storage, and various uninsurable risks are 1¾d. per lb., and the meat is sold to the retailer at about 10½d. per lb. I understand that the question of retail meat prices is being considered by the Ministry of Food.