H.—3B

2

attended by representatives of freezing companies, shipping companies, the Board of Agriculture, buyers, and others. A schedule of prices, a system of grading, and a general ' working arrangement" were agreed upon and subscribed to by the interested parties. The schedule of prices then agreed to was adhered to until the 20th October, 1916, when the rates were revised. The two sets of rates hereafter follow for purposes of comparison : —

A condition applying to the prices fixed on the 20th October, 1916, was that they should operate for at least three months after the termination of the war, and that the storage rate previously paid should be reduced by 25 per cent, as from the Ist November, 1916. The total quantities of meat purchased from the 3rd March, 1915, to the 31st March, 1917, were,— Beef (quarters) ... ... ... ... 1,313,748 Mutton (carcases) ... ... ... ... 5,279,408 Lamb (carcases) ... ... ... ... 6,928,023 Other meat (in 60 lb. carcases) ... ... 198,611 The total payments for meat to the 31st March amounted to £15,800,701, distributed as under :— £ £ Auckland ... ... ... 1,399,312 Poverty Bay ... ... ... 1,599,494 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... 1,584,561 Taranaki ... ... ... 641,255 Wellington ... ... ... 4,612,552 North Island ... ... 9,837,174 Marlborough ... ... ... 120,242 Nelson ... ... ... ... 71,072 Canterbury ... ... ... 3,455,022 Otago ... ... ... ... 1,193,913 Southland ... ... ... 1,123,278 South Island ... ... — 5,963,527 £15,800,701

Description. „ . ,. Prices operating T °S" ,g from 3rd March, from 20th l915 , to 10th October, 1916. .. , , .,,.,. October, 1916. Per lb. Per lb. d. (1. 51 H H 4 Wethers, first quality, 72 lb. and under „ . „ over 72 lb. and up to 85 lb. .. ,, ,, ,, 85lb. and up to 98 lb. (subject to special approval by Inspector) ,, second quality Ewes, first quality, 72 lb. and under „ ,, over 72 lb. and up to 85 lb. ,, second quality .. .. .. .. .. :. Lamb, specially prime and Canterbury quality, 42 lb. and under ,, first quality, 42. lb and under ,, „ over 42 lb. „ second quality Beef, prime ox .. ,, second and heifer .. ,, boning in quarters ,, cow, prime „ ,, second ,, boneless Mutton, legs ,, shoulders „ loins .. ,, haunches 5* H 4J 4 4f 3f 4| 3f H b| 6f H H H H 5i 5 4f 4f 4-| 4i 4 4f 4i 4| 4 5| 5 6| 5J 5f H 5| 4J 5