§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the statements of a deputation representing the meat-canning and preserving interests of Australia which waited upon Mr. Chief Secretary Black, of the the New South Wales Government, in which it was alleged that, in the matter of War Office and Admiralty orders for canned meat, Australian producers had been deliberately boycotted by the Committee of Supplies; that the Chicago Beef Trust had received undue preference to such an extent that, while Australian goods were not accepted, the same goods, if sold to an American firm and freshly labelled, were accepted by both the War Office and the Admiralty; and that Mr. Chief Secretary Black, in reply to the deputation, made remarks regarding the treatment of Australian producers and in connection with the distribution of these canned-beef orders; whether, at the outbreak of the War, large orders had been given to Australian firms against whom no complaint was made; whether, in view of the discontent in the Colonies, he will state the reason for the discontinuance of orders to Australian firms; and whether Australian goods were being or had been tendered from American sources?
§ Mr. FORSTERMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. It is the established policy of the War Office to deal, as far as possible, with Australian packers rather than with foreign firms, subject, of course, to due regard being paid to considerations of quality, price, and delivery, and this policy has been strictly adhered to. In view of the existing stocks no orders of importance have been placed for some time, but there has been no discontinuance of Australian orders as such. Agents of American firms have for some years been buyers of Australian meat, and the purchase of spot stocks naturally includes such goods.