§ 2 and 52. Mr. BOWERMANasked (1) the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the quantities of Australian and New Zealand meat purchased by the Government and awaiting shipment to this country; the proportion of Australian meat allowed to be exported to this country, and whether intended for the British Army only or for general consumption; whether any (and if so, how much) Australian meat has been sold in the United States of America; (2) the Food Controller if he can state the quantities of Australian and New Zealand meat purchased by the Government and available for shipment to this country; whether only a proportion of the Australian meat is allowed to be brought over and, if so, to what extent; whether the incoming supplies of such meat are reserved for the British Army or are available for the general community; and whether any Australian meat has been sold in the United States of America?
§ Sir A. GEDDESHis Majesty's Government have purchased from Australia and New Zealand their whole exportable surplus of frozen meat. According to latest advices, the quantities awaiting shipment were on 31st March:—
| In Australia | 37,263 tons. |
| In New Zealand | 173,639 tons. |
§ Shipment is proceeding as fast as steamers can be made available. As a general rule, beef and wether mutton have been reserved for the use of the Allied Forces in the United Kingdom, the Continent, and Egypt, and all the ewe mutton and lamb have been sold to the civilian population of the United Kingdom, with some small exceptions. A very little Australian meat has been sold to the United States Government for Manila and Honolulu, and small quantities of New Zealand meat have been exported to the West Coast of Canada and the United States.