3

H.—3B

The respective quantities of meat shipped from each port from the 3rd March, 1915, to the 31st March, 1917, are set out in the following table :—

The quantities of meat which had either arrived at destination or were afloat as on the 31st March were as follows :— Beef (quarters) ... ... ... ... 1,268,627 Mutton (carcases) ... ... ... ... 5,140,964 Lamb (carcases) ... ... ... ... 6,809,934 The balance is accounted for by quantities of meat then on board steamers loading in New Zealand and losses in the steamers " Clan MacTavish " and " Eotorua." The important work of inspection, grading, and cheeking weights, together with the certification of statements furnished with regularity by the freezing companies relating to quantities of meat on hand, killings, &c, is carried out by the Live-stock Division of the Department of Agriculture. System of Payment for Meat. The system of payment for the meat adopted at the outset has been adhered to, and has proved satisfactory. The method adopted is for consignors to forward shipping documents and invoices to the Department of Imperial Government Supplies and draw on Wellington, which by an arrangement made with the banks in the Dominion they are able to do without any expense. In the case of freezing companies freezing on account of clients, however, it has been arranged that the company concerned shall forward all documents direct to the Department in Wellington, together with a statement showing to whom payment is desired to be made for specified shipments. Cheques are thereupon posted directly to the clients named, and are made payable free of exchange. This method obviates the necessity for the freezing company furnishing more than one set of documents, and prevents the delay which would arise if a set of documents had to be prepared and forwarded to individual clients and subsequently submitted to the Department in Wellington for settlement. Payment is made for shipments by the Department usually within twentyfour hours of the receipt of documents. The funds required for the purchases are provided by the Imperial Government through the High Commissioner, to whom application is made by the

fort of Shipment. 191'1-15 Season. 1915-10 Season. 31st March, 1917. Beef. Mutton, Lamb, Beef. Mutton. Lamb, Beef. I Mutton. Lamb. Beef. Totals Mutton. Lamb, Whangarei Auckland Tokomaru Bay • ■ (lisborne Napier Waitara ' Now Plymouth .. Wanganui Wellington Quarters. Oaroases. Oaroases. Quarters Carcases. Carcases. Quarters. Oaroases. Carcases. ' 23',094 .. .. 41,457 11,323 3,222 11,076 3,271 52,533 41,204 74,983 180,587 42,975 108,104 43,520 10,824 8,445 0,463 58,460 41,897 8,950J 107,846 67,526 2,927 16.223 1 25,024 220,038 101,073 62,201i 325.172 165,752 6,987 69,456 10,255 34,802; 208,775 151,982j 64,802 377,599 301,282 11,453 130,030 25,463 46,612; 49,485 28,250] 77,080 54,929 44,126 14,087) 13,918 13,389 1,457 6,199 2,180 17,812 95,713 38,012 20,783 88,569 07,706 23.353 1 38,632 17,479 58,979 610,073 411,351166,931 734,540 782,383 47,602256,0091319,596 Quarters. 70,227 282,040 18,340 94,272 111,057 138,379 1,457 67,948 273,512 Carcases. 14,594 95,003 182,529 614,666 717,004 118,332 0,199 222,814 1,001,282 Carcases. 3,222 191,532 109,423 277,080 478,727 85,765 2,180 123,257 1,513,330 Total, North Island 265,9191,283,808 847,548635,451 1,742,953 1,540,161 102,462545,722396,807 1 1,742,953 I.540.161 102,402 545,722 396,807 1,063,832 ,063,832 3,572,483 2,784,516 Nelson Picton Lyttelton Timaru Oamaru I limcilin Bluff 521 10,312 20,549 4,703 10,623 21,563 2,157 2,544 22,410 31,035 .. 27,650 42,392 .. 10,809 11,128 244,750 772,152 38,102 274,884 770,312 18,711135,297 207,059 2,618 153,374 623,925 7,624 102,373 334,357 0,903 89,485 192,507 29,871 97,868 .. 10,095 32,402 .. 9,336 2,732 11,876 85,884 214,387 22,240 102,710 189,080 0,022 54,132 54,900 45,673 150,552 282,044 01,634 144,396 217,847 9,878 23,432 35,796 20,549 31,035 772,152 023,925 97,808 214,387 282,044 4,703 38,102 7,624 10,623 27,650 274,884 102,373 10,095 102,710 144,390 21,563 42,392 770,312 334,357 32,402 189,080 217,847 2,157 18,711 0,903 2,544 10,809 135,297 89,485 9,336 54,132 23,432 207,059 192,507 2,732 54,900 35,796 7,441 68,001 17,145 40,144 117,185 7,44.1. 68,001 17,145 29,479 00,809 654,931 345,232 49,302 242,732 324,380 42,112 73,427 1,749,523 1,150,789 .133,002 458,907 535,687 22,246 01,634 0,022 9,878 40,144 117,185 Total, South Island 71,816 703,153 2,041,900134,429 078,7371,008,553 43,071325,035 492,994 2,041,960 134,429 078,737 1,608,553 43,071 325.035 492,994 249,916, 249,916 1,706,925 4,143,507 Grand totals 337,7351,986,9612,889,508 769,880 2,421,690 3,148,714 200,133 870,757 889,801 1 2,889,508 769,880 2,421,090 3,148,714 200,133 870,757 889,80.1 i 1,313,748 .,313,748 i 5,279,408 6,928,023