§ Mr. RATCLIFFEasked the Minister of Food whether, seeing that last season's New Zealand mutton and lamb has been sold at a profit to the Government to speculative buyers, free on board, New 627W Zealand, for export to American ports, which sold for about 9d. per lb. there, vide American Press, he will state why old stocks of lamb should be charged by his Department 13d. per lb. to the distributor; and why the British public cannot be placed in as favourable a position as the American public and have their meat from our own Colonies at the same price as America?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on this subject on the 5th instant. In view of recent movements in the rate of exchange, such a comparison of sterling and dollar prices as that suggested by the question is entirely misleading.