§ Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what precautions he takes to ensure that canned meat sold from Government stocks for manufacture is not retailed to the general public instead of being used for manufacture.
§ Mr. SoamesCanned meat from Government stocks which is not regarded as suitable for the retail trade is sold to a firm of cooked meat manufacturers who have given an assurance that the meat would go only for manufacture.
§ Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why canned meat seriously affected by black staining or metalic taste is sold from Government stocks for manufacture; and for what purposes it is manufactured.
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§ Mr. SoamesCanned meat from Government stocks is sold for manufacture only on the advice of an independent surveyor that it is suitable for that purpose. I understand that it is used by the trade in the preparation of meat pastes and similar goods.
§ Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the difference in price per lb. obtained by the Government on the sale of canned meat from Government stocks for manufacture and retail, respectively.
§ Mr. SoamesThis varies according to market conditions. Recently, the difference in price obtained on the sale of canned meat for retail or manufacture has averaged about 1s. 2d. a 1b.
§ Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of the 1,000 tons of canned meat released monthly from Government stocks is sold for retail to the general public and for manufacture, respectively.
§ Mr. SoamesAbout 30 tons a month on the average goes for manufacture.