Mr. ALFRED DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government intends to continue the meat station which it established in South America during the War; whether he can explain the great increase in the price of Argentine beef during the recent months; whether there is reason to suppose that this increase is due to the activities of the meat trust; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONNo decision has yet been made as to the continuance of the meat station referred to. Normally, all meat prices rise in the spring and early summer owing to the relative shortage of home supplies, and the prices of Argentine beef have varied during the last few months according to the state of the market; to-day they are lower than in the beginning of April. There is no reason to suspect that these price movements have been due to calculated operations on the part of importers.