§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if a contract for the supply of frozen beef to the Army from July to September, 1914, was entered into with the firm of Thomas Borthwick and Sons, Limited; if so, at what price, and was the contract determined by the outbreak of hostilities; what price approximately was paid by the Government for frozen and chilled beef and mutton commandeered or acquired otherwise than by contract from 1st August to 31st December, 1914; what quantities were so acquired; was any commission paid to any agents for the purchase or acquisition of the same; if so, who was the buyer and what was his total commission for the months in question; what method is at present adopted for obtaining the Army meat supplies, and what prices approximately are paid for the same; whether the total meat output of New Zealand, Queensland, and New South Wales is commandeered for the benefit of the Imperial Government; and if he will direct that such part of the total shipment from those Colonies as is not required for consumption by the troops shall be sold to the public at a rate to cover cost, insurance, and freight alone?
Mr. BAKERThe answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative; to the second part, contract prices are confidential and cannot be published; to the third part, the contract ran its full course to the 30th September, but a claim by the contractor for an increased price on supplies made since the War and in excess of normal requirements is under consideration; to the fourth part, the supplies commandeered were paid for at current rates; to the fifth part, the quantities so acquired were, approximately, frozen beef, 40,190,973 lbs., frozen mutton, 10,497,488 lbs., no chilled beef 1773W being taken; to the sixth part, no commission was paid to any agent, the supplies being acquired by an officer of the Army Service Corps; to the seventh part, special arrangements are now in force for obtaining the Army meat supplies, which are being paid for at current market rates; to the eighth part the answer is that by arrangement with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand control has been obtained over the whole of the refrigerated beef and mutton produced in these countries and available for export; to the ninth (concluding) part, the mariner in which any meat not required for the troops will be disposed of is at present under consideration.