Mr. DENNISSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether, in view of the shortage of imported meat consequent on the diminution in available tonnage, he will consider the advisability of making arrangements for the frozen beef, both as supplied to the Armies of the Allies and for home consumption, which is now imported in quarters, being boned before exportation and shipped inboxes, crates, or packages, whereby a saving of 50 per cent. would be effected in the cubic space occupied on board ship, and any increase in the cost would be fully compensated by greater economic facilities for the storage and handling of the beef from the exporting docks right up to the hands of the Army cooks or the local butchers?
Sir A. STANLEYMy hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Experiments in this direction have been made, and they indicate that the difficulty involved in obtaining the necessary labour and materials for boning the beef and making the necessary boxes on any considerable scale is insuperable at the present time. I am informed that in any case the saving of cubic space would not be so great as my hon. Friend suggests.
§ Sir J. SPEARasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what payments are made from the 30s. paid by a butcher above the cost price on his receiving a graded fat bullock; and, in case any such animal proves to be tuberculous and the meat destroyed, would the butcher be compensated from the 30s. fund?
§ Mr. CLYNESThere is now no per-head charge on cattle and sheep payable by the butcher, as the necessary distribution charges on meat are now borne by the Central Live-stock Fund. These charges include insurance against the condemnation 1187W of animals found to be suffering from tuberculosis, and the following items: Auctioneers' charges, railage, grading and valuation, market tolls and weighing charges, administration charges, droving, slaughtering, slaughter-house dues, meat market dues, refrigerating and sheeting, feeding and lairage, cartage and porterage from slaughter-house to meat market, further railage, Government agents' charges, and Wholesale Meat Supply Association agents' charges.
§ Mr. BOWERMANasked whether, inasmuch as a liberal allowance of butcher's meat is essential as a means of restoring strength to certain classes of patients, latitude will be allowed doctors in ordering extra supplies of meat for such patients?
§ Mr. CLYNESFood control committees may allow extra, rations of meat in the case of certain specified diseases on the recommendation of a doctor, but until there are adequate supplies available, it is not proposed to extend the privilege to patients suffering from diseases other than those specified.
§ Mr. PETOasked whether, in the event of any increased ration of meat being authorised for manual workers, an appropriate additional ration of meat, or its equivalent, will be allowed for all growing boys and girls of all classes up to the age of nineteen years?
§ Mr. CLYNESIt is hoped, as soon as adequate supplies, are available, to increase the meat ration for manual workers and for growing boys and girls, but the manual workers will have priority.
§ Mr. PRINGLEasked whether the Food Controller has received protests from cooperative societies in the Glasgow district against the method of allocating meat supplies, which prevents these societies obtaining the supplies to which they are entitled; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to this question was printed in yesterday's official report.
§ Sir J. SPEARasked the President of the Board of Agriculture, in view of the uncertainty as to the prices to be paid for the several grades of controlled fat bullocks, will he state what they are; is he aware that it was considered present prices were to be continued throughout 1188W the year, but recent statements alluded to the price as continued to 1st June only; and, in order to prevent a check to production, will he say what is intended?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have been asked to reply. I am sending my hon. Friend a list of prices which will be printed in the official report. I may add that the maximum price of 75s. per cwt. live-weight for cattle of the first grade, or its equivalent in dead-weight, will not be lowered before 1st June, 1919.
The following in the list of prices referred to: —
The following are the maximum live-weight prices fixed for the several grades of fat cattle:
Bulls, Bullocks and Heifers Per cwt. 1st Grade 56 per cent and over 75s. 2nd Grade 52 per cent to 56 percent 70s. 3rd Grade 48 per cent to 52 percent 65s 4th Grade Under 48 per cent. — Cows. per cwt. 1st Grade 52 per cent. and over 70s. 2nd Grade 46 per cent. up to 52 per cent. 62s. 3rd Grade 42 per cent. up to 46 per cent. 53s. 4th Grade Under 42 per cent. — Inferior cattle and all saleable cattle manifestly diseased will be placed in the fourth grade and valued accordingly.