55. Lieutenant H. Hughesasked the Minister of Food what steps have been taken to divert supplies of foodstuffs from Australia to India; and what quantities of food have been sent from Australia during the past nine months to India and 224W Great Britain respectively, giving details of same.
§ Sir B. Smith:Of the cereals exported from Australia during the first four months of 1946, over 80 per cent. of the wheat, amounting to more than 160,000 tons, was shipped to India, together with some 23,000 tons of flour. The remaining supplies went chiefly to countries in the Indian Ocean area, particularly Ceylon and Malaya. India's requirements of other foodstuffs from Australia are relatively small and every effort has been made to meet them in full. As detailed particulars are asked for in the second part of the Question, I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the statement:
According to the figures published by the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, the quantities of foodstuffs supplied from Australia to India and United Kingdom respectively during the nine months from June, 1945, to February, 1946, the latest period for which data are available, were as follow:
(Million lbs.) (Million lbs.) Dairy Products Butter 2.1 12.2 81.6 93.0 F.C. Dried Milk 0 9 4.5 Malted Milk 0.2 – Cheese 9.0 6.9 Eggs – 18.1 Meat Beef 25.3 35.4 46.9 113.1 Veal 2.3 1.0 Lamb – 31.0 Mutton 3.9 10.7 Pork – 22.0 Bacon 1.0 0.5 Sausages 2.9 1.0 Cereals Wheat 21.0 21.0 – 7.0 Wheat Flour – 7.0 Rice – –