§ Colonel W. THORNEasked the Food Controller what is the total quantity of bacon shipped to foreign countries since 1st January, 1919; what parts have been sent; and what were the prices realised for each group of goods?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe total quantity of bacon shipped by the Ministry of Food to foreign countries since 1st January, 1919, amounts to 10,504 tons. The shipments comprised a large variety of cuts, with a range of prices according to the cuts. The prices charged were such as to ensure the Ministry against any loss on the transaction.
Mr. KENNEDY JONESasked the Food Controller whether, in the official table showing the total stocks of food issued by him, the statement that the present prices paid by the Ministry for bacon are in excess of the price at which stock is sold means that he is incurring a loss upon the sale of bacon; and, if so, will he state how much is it a week?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe Ministry have not very recently made any purchases of bacon, but the approximate loss on the sales now being made is £7,000 on the present weekly consumption.
§ Colonel THORNEasked the Food Controller whether it is the fact that the Allies purchase bacon hogs alive in America at 17 dollars 50 cents per 100 lbs., or 8¾d. per lb., as stated by Mr. Hoover; whether the average weight of bacon realised is 75 per cent. of the live weight of the hog; and whether he will supply a provisional esti- 1762W mate of costs and realisations on a 200-lb. hog bought alive at Chicago, and indicate in detail the various items which cause a hog costing 8¾d. per lb. alive to arrive at Liverpool as bacon at 1s. 6½d. per lb. as indicated in the Board of Trade Returns, showing what realised for head, pluck, lard, etc., what paid for slaughtering and packing, rail Chicago to New York, and freight New York to Liverpool?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe purchases of the Ministry of Food in America are of bacon, not of live hogs. The average weight of bacon realisable from a 200-lb. live-weight hog is, approximately, 109 lbs., about 25 per cent. of the original live weight being lost in the killing and gutting of the animal. Only about 68 per cent. of the carcases can be made into bacon, the remainder being head, feet, lard, backbone, etc. The percentage of the live weight of hogs, which is made into bacon and the cost of making the bacon, is not under the control of the Ministry of Food. The profit, however, which can be made by the packer is limited by the United States Food Administration. The price paid for bacon by the Ministry of Food is f.a.s., and is fixed by the United States Food Administration, after consultation with the representatives of the Ministry of Food in the United States. During November and December, 1918, the average price of the purchases made by the Ministry of Food was 32¾ cents per lb., equivalent to 1s. 4½d. per lb. at the present rate of exchange. To this price must be added the freight, insurance, and landing charges, administrative charges, and loss in weight, which brings the total cost up to at least 1s. 6½d. per lb.