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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGPHIC-

| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-RIOT TO

272

APPENDIX IX.

Supplies of Meat, Produce, and Horses, required by the War Office and Admiralty, from Australia.

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Document.

2. To War Office and Admiralty

3. Admiralty-

LIST OF PAPERS.

Date.

Page.

f: Governor-General Lord Hopetoun to Mr. Chamberlain

No. 140.-Dec. 19, 1901.

(Rec. Jan. 27, 1902.)

272

Jan. 31, 1902.

275

May 13, 1902.

275

3. War Office

(Rec. May 27, 1902.)

277

.0

5. To War Office

June 11, 1902.

278

6. War Office

June 20, 1902.

279

7. List of Australian Firms accepted for Army Meat Contracts during the three years 1898-1900.

279

3620.

No. 1.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL LORD HOPETOUN to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

(No. 140.) SIR,

(Received January 27, 1902.)

Commonwealth of Australia, Melbourne, 19th December, 1901. ADVERTING to your despatch, No. 84, of the 18th of October last, I have now the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a Minute which I have received from my responsible advisers, on the subject of the supplies of meat, produce, and horses, required by the War Office and the Admiralty, from Australia.

I have, &o.,

HOPETOUN,

JULIAN AN

Enclosure in No. 1.

Governor-General.

Commonwealth of Australia,

Department of External Affairs.

MINUTH FOR HIS EXCELLENCE THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Mr. Barton presents his humble duty to Your Excellency, and has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the despatch from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 18th October 1901, on the subject of the supplies of preserved meat obtained by the Admiralty and War Office, which was transmitted by

Tour Excellency on the 20th November laat.

2. In connection with this despatch, Mr. Barton would be glad if Your Excellency would refer to your despatch (to which it is an answer) requesting that, in oase of cocarsets tơ be entured into by the Admiralty and the War Office, timaly notice should be given to enable tenders to be called in Australia and New Zealand.

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273

3. Mr. Barton observes, with satisfaction, the letter from the War Office in which the Secretary of State for the Colonies is advised that every possible consideration will be given to the wishes of the Governor-General of Australia. It is not, however, stated what steps had been taken, and what changes in the existing methods had been made or were in contemplation, in order to carry out that intention.

4. Mr. Barton regrets to say that there exists throughout the Commonwealth a feefing that our merchants have not received adequate consideration from the autho- rities in connection with the letting of contracts for supplies required for use in connection with the war in South Africa.

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5. Mr. Barton has the honour to enclose, for the information of Your Excellency, copy of a letter which he has received from a number of firms in Sydney who represent exporting intereste. He has received several verbal representations to the same effect as those contained in the letter, and strongly-worded articles have appeared in the public press from time to time, drawing attention to what is referred to as the indifference shown by the War Office to the interests of Australian producers.

6. Mr. Barton would be glad if the Secretary of State for the Colonies were asked to request the War Office to supply him with information as to the extent of the He would also be obliged if the goods purchases of supplies from Australian firms. purchased from firms in Australia can be clearly distinguished from those of goods alleged to be Australian, but purclissed from firms in South Africa and elsewhere, as it has been publicly stated that goods have been supplied to the War Office authorities in South Africa which were represented as Australian, but which, as à fact, were 'not the produce of this country.

7. It is further represented to Mr. Barton that if tenders for supplies as required could be called in Australia, that system would lead to a great saving in the amounts to be paid by the War Office. The large profits said to have been made by business trading firms in South Africa, in connection with the supply of Australian meat, have been freely commented upon in mercantile ciroles and in the publio press. It is represented that huge profits have been made-profits far in eroess of any legitimate reward of the capital, labour, and ente prise invested in the industry. It is stated that if business had been carried on direct between Australian producers and the War Office much more economical terms could have been arranged, and large sums of money thus saved by the Imperial authorities.

28. Mr. Barton has reason to believe that a communication has been addressed to Lord Kitchener, drawing attention to the fact that the prices paid by the American Army authorities in the Philippine Islands for supplies of Australian meat are very much below those which have been paid by the Imperial authorities in South Africa for supplies of similar commodities, and this although the circumstances of the respective situations have been largely similar.

9. In a letter recently received from a responsible firm in this community it is stated that an offer could be made to supply, monthly, 2,000 tons of frozen beef, mutton, lamb, &o., ex store ship at Durban or Capetown, at a price of 64d. per pound all round. It has been announced that the firm in South Africa who have supplied large quantities of frozen meat for the use of the Army there have been receiving 93d. per pound for mutton, so it is clear that the price quoted would represent a substantial reduction and consequent saving to the War Office.

10. Mr. Barton would, therefore, strongly urge that the foregoing statements be taken into consideration by the Imperial authorities, and ventures to express a hope that the result of such consideration may be a wider distribution of contracts and a more direct and economical method of busines trading.

11. Mr. Barton desires to invite attention also to the question of supply of horses for use in the South African war. Paragraphs frequently appear in the public press notifying that large shipments of horses have been made from America, Russia, and other countries to South Africa. These paragraphs excite comment and onuse enquiries to be made as to why the number drawn from this country is, comparatively, no sinall. · Mr. Barton has received a communication, on this subject from a responsible frin which stavsen that an offer was made through the ›Prémier of Quéemiland” some time ago to supply 600 hosses per month for ska months, and so far the offer hâm nót Matour solcnow laged, sonid is regulkkaus. It is represented that the reason for this is not one connected with the price, as the price of the horses has not evou bien disbukleti rake gyndicate reponsible for the offer and the Way Ofice. ylir: «Bartóil' in Jelsandali shine time difficulty in the way fn-with respect to the form of contraer própoleä.

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