H—3o

The total subsidies being paid on net export killings of meat (excluding offal) now amount to the following rates per pound (including 0-015 for administration, &c.) : —- Lamb .. .. .. .. .. .. 0-3425 d. Wethers .. .. .. .. .. .. 0-3425 d. Ewes (bone in) .. .. .. .. .. 0-3425 d. Boneless mutton .. . . .. .. .. 0-4275 d. Beef and veal (bone in) .. .. .. .. 0-275 d. Boneless beef .. .. .. .. .. 0-4275 d. Boneless bobby veal .. .. .. .. 0 • 6525 d. Baconer, porker, and chopper sides .. .. .. 0 • 3d. EFFECT OF THE RATIONING EMERGENCY REGULATIONS AS APPLIED TO MEAT The following information is supplied by the Food and Rationing Controller : It is estimated that since the inception of meat rationing in March, 1944, 49,000 tons of meat have been withdrawn from civilian consumption. This figure is exclusive of savings in respect of bacon and ham, which from the introduction of the Bacon and Ham Curing Order in June, 1943, to date has resulted in 142,000 baconer pigs, equivalent to 8,600 tons carcase weight, being withheld from local sales. SUPPLIES OF FROZEN AND CANNED MEAT TO UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES During the period 1942-1945 large quantities of meat, both frozen and canned, were delivered to the United States Joint Purchasing Board for supply to the United States .Armed Forces operating in the Pacific. In the initial stages meat was delivered direct to vessels loading at Auckland, but, as the war in the Pacific progressed, this was found to be cumbersome and impracticable. Various refrigerated stores were then leased to the United States Joint Purchasing Board, and the meat and edible offals, released by the United Kingdom Ministry of Food for use by the United States Armed Forces, was centralized at these stores according to a monthly programme arranged by the procurement officers of the Board and the Marketing Department. Canned meats were delivered to stores either leased by or built for the United States Joint Purchasing Board. Prices debited to the Board were the same as those which would have been debited to the United Kingdom Ministry of Food had the meat been shipped to the United Kingdom, with the addition of an agreed charge to cover the cost of centralization, &c. The following table shows the classes and quantities, in tons, delivered by the Department during the period 1942-45 :—-

In October, 1945, advice was received that no further supplies were required, and subsequently the stocks in store were handed over to the War Assets Realization Board for disposal.

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— 1942. 1943. 1944. 1945. Total. Lamb 163 5,232 6,818 8,495 20,708 Mutton 452 2,843 1,957 1,925 7,177 Beef and veal 3,991 17,756 33,340 27,354 82,441 Pork 1,199 4,485 6,657 3,538 15,879 Offal 87 1,079 2,618 2,835 6,619 Preserved 11,467 10,785 5,911 28,163 Total 5,892 42,862 62,175 50,058 160,987