§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the prices the American Meat Trust managers is making the small butchers pay for American meat; if he is aware that they are charging the following prices: Common chilled thin flank of beef 11d. per lb., chilled hind-quarters of beef 1s. 0½d. to 1s. 1d. per lb., chilled fore-quarters of beef 11¼d. to 11½d. per lb., 80 lbs. River Plate sheep 10¾d. to 11d. per lb., and frozen pigs 11d. per lb.; will he consider the desirability of having the American meat controlled, like the New Zealand meat, by the Government; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. G. ROBERTSI am informed that the prices at Smithfield on the 6th instant were somewhat below those given by my 575W hon. Friend. As regards the latter part of his question, as the price of meat in British markets is dominated by the price of British meat, the Board of Trade are not satisfied that they could purchase American chilled beef on terms that would enable them to place it on the market at prices substantially below those now ruling.