House of Representatives
21 February 1945

17th Parliament · 3rd Session

  1. House of Representatives
  2. 17th Parliament
  3. 1945

The, House met at 3 p.m. pursuant to the proclamation of HisRoyal Highness the Governor-General.

The Clerk read the proclamation.

Mr. Speaker (Hon. J. S.Rosevear) took the chair, and read prayers.

page 17

OPENING OF THE SESSION

The Usher of the Black Rod, being announced, was admitted, and delivered the message that His Royal Highness the Governor-General desired the attendance of honorable members in the Senate Chamber forthwith .

Mr. Speaker and honorable members attended accordingly, and having returned,

page 17

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY RESEARCH BILL 1945

Motion (by Mr. Curtin) agreed to -

That leave be given to bring in a Bill for an Act to amend the Science and Industry Research Act 1920-1939.

Bill presented, and read a first time.

page 17

DEATH OF MR. SAMUEL DENNIS

Mr CURTIN:
Prime Minister and Minister for Defence · Fremantle · ALP

– I regret to inform honorable members of the death of Mr. Samuel Dennis, a former member of this House,which occurred in Melbourne on the 28th January.

The late gentleman was elected to the House of Representatives for the Division of Batman at the general elections in 1931, and was defeated at the general elections in 1934. I was not a member of the House during the period that he occupied a seat, consequently I had not personally made his acquaintance; but I know of his work, and of the high personal esteem in which he was held by his fellow members.

It was, however, more particularly in the sphere of local government that Mr. Dennis gave outstanding service. He was for 36 years a member of the Northcote Council, and twice during that period occupied the position of mayor. He represented the council on the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works for many years, and acted as vicechairman of the board. He was also closely associated with church and sporting club organizations, and his loss will be severely felt throughout the district in which he resided. Our sympathy goes out to the widow and family of one who has left behind a valuable record of public service. I move -

That this House records itssincere regret at the death of Mr. Samuel Dennis, a former member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Batman, places on record its appreciation of his meritorious public service and tendersits deep sympathy to his widow and the members of his family in their bereavement.

Mr MENZIES:
Leader of the Opposition · Kooyong

– I second the motion. As the Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) has pointed out, the great bulk of a long period of public service rendered by the late gentleman was rendered in municipal politics; though he was in this House for a period of three years. In addition to his work in municipal affairs, he was a man with very close and a variety of interests in church work, and in sporting bodies. Ina dozen ways he showed himself to be a good citizen. He is, perhaps, one of many proofs which we have had in Australia, that the foundation of a healthy public life is healthy, disinterested, honest local government. He played his part in that respect, and left behind him, particularly in his own city, a record which any man might envy.

Mr.FADDEN (Darling DownsLeader of the Australian Country party). -The Australian Country party associates itself with the sentiments that have been expressed, and the motion that has been moved and seconded.

Question resolved in the affirmative, honorable members standing in their places.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

Mr. CURTIN (Fremantle - Prime Ministerand Minister for Defence). - I desire formally to announce that His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, accompanied by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester and their two children, Prince William and Prince Richard, arrived in Australia on the 28th January,1945.

His Royal Highness was sworn in as Governor-General and CommanderinChief in and over the Commonwealth of Australia,at Canberra, on the 30th January.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES.

Mr. CURTIN (Fremantle - Prime

Ministerand Minister for Defence). - I formally announce that, consequent on changes which have been effected in the organization of Commonwealth departments of State, the Ministry is now constituted as follows: -

Prime Minister and Minister for Defence - The Right Honorable John Curtin.

Minister for the Army (and Deputy Prime Minister)- The Right Honorable F. M. Forde.

Treasurer - The Honorable J. B. Chifley.

Attorney-General and Minister for External Affairs- The Right Honorable H. V. Evatt, LL.D., D.Litt., K.C.

Vice-President of the Executive Council - The Honorable J. A. Beasley.

Minister for the Navy, Minister for Munitions and Minister for Aircraft Production - The Honorable. N. J.O. Makin.

Minister for Trade and Customs - Senator the Honorable R. V. Keane.

Minister for Labour and National Service - The HonorableE. J. Holloway.

Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation - The Honorable A. S. Drakeford.

Minister for Commerce and AgricultureThe Honorable W. J. Scully.

Minister for Supply and Shipping - Senator the Honorable W. P. Ashley.

Minister for Post-war Reconstruction and Minister in charge of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - The Honorable J. J. Dedman.

Minister for the Interior - Senator the Honorable J. S. Collings.

Minister for Transport and Minister for External Territories - The Honorable E. J. Ward.

Minister for Health and Minister for Social Services-Senator the HonorableJ. M.Fraser.

Minister for Repatriation and Minister in charge of War Service Homes - The Honorable C. W. Frost.

Minister for Home Security and Minister for Works - The Honorable H. P. Lazzarini.

Postmaster-General - Senator the Honorable D. Cameron.

Minister for Information - The Honorable A. A. Calwell.

The members of the War Cabinet are -

Mr. Curtin, Mr. Forde, Mr. Chifley, Dr. Evatt, Mr. Beasley, Mr. Makin, Mr. Drakeford and Mr. Dedman.

Ministerial representation in the two chambers will be as follows : -

In the House ofRepresentatives -

TheRight Honorable F. M. Forde will represent the Minister for Trade and Customs.

The Honorable J. A. Beasley will represent the Minister for Supply and Shipping.

The Honorable E. J. Holloway will represent the Minister for Health and Minister for Social Services.

The Honorable H. P. Lazzarini will represent the Minister for the Interior.

The Honorable A. A. Calwell will represent the Postmaster-General.

In the Senate -

Senator the HonorableR. V. Keane will represent the Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Treasurer, the Minister for Post-war Reconstruction and the Minister in charge of the Council for Scientific and IndustrialResearch.

Senator the Honorable W. P. Ashley will represent the Attorney-General and Minister for External Affairs, the Minister for theNavy, and Minister for Munitions, the Minister for Labour and National Service, and the Minister for Information.

Senator the Honorable J. S. Collings will represent the Minister for Transport and Minister for External Territories and the Minister for Home Security and Minister for Works.

Senator the Honorable J. M. Fraser will represent the Minister for the Army and the Minister for Commerce and Agriculture.

Senator the Honorable D. Cameron will represent the Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation, the Minister for Aircraft Production, the Minister for Expatriation and Minister in charge of War Service Homes.

page 19

LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Mr MENZIES:
Leader of the Opposition · Kooyong

– by leave - I have to announce that, in consequence of the formation of the Liberal party of Australia, those who sit with me in this House desire to be known in future as members of the Liberal party.

page 19

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECH

Address-in-reply.

Mr SPEAKER (Hon J S Rosevear:
DALLEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

– I have to report that the House this day attended HisRoyal Highness the Governor-General in the Senate chamber, where HisRoyal Highness was pleased to make a speech to both Houses of the Parliament of which I have received a copy (vide page 5).

Motion (by Mr. Curtin) agreed to -

That a committee, consisting of Mr. Fraser, Mr. Burke, and the mover, be appointed to prepare an Address- in-Reply to the speech delivered by His Royal Highness the GovernorGeneral to both Houses of the Parliament, and that the committee do report at the next sitting.

page 19

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT

Motion (by Mr.Curtin) agreed to -

That the House, at its rising, adjourn to to-morrow, at 2.30 p.m.

page 19

PAPERS

The following papers were presented : -

Arbitration (Public Service) Act - Determinationsby the Arbitrator, &c. -

1944-

No. 29 - Commonwealth Storemen and Packers’ Union of Australia and Commonwealth Naval Storehousemen’s Association.

No. 30 - Commonwealth Storemen and Packers’ Union and Commonwealth Naval Storehousemen’s Association.

No. 31 - Commonwealth Foremen’s Association.

No. 32 - Federated Engine Drivers’ and Firemen’s Association of Australasia and Arms, Explosives and Munition Workers’ Federation of Australia.

1945-

No. 1 - Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees’ Union of Australia.

No. 2 - Professional Officers’ Association, Commonwealth Public Service.

Canned Fruits Export Charges Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1 945, No. 5.

Commonwealth Public Service Act - Appointment - Department of the Treasury - C. Campbell-Smith.

Commonwealth Railways Act - By-law No. 85.

Commonwealth Shipping Act - Commonwealth Shipping Board - Cockatoo Island Dockyard - Balance-sheet and Liquidation Account, together with Auditor-General’s report thereon, for year ended 29th February, 1944.

Customs Act - Customs Proclamations - Nos. 612,614-618.

Customs Act and Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1944, No. 177.

Defence Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules- 1944, Nos. 170, 171,180, 185. 1945, No.6.

Electoral - Referendums - Statistical Returns in relation to the submission to the Electors of a Proposed Law for the Alteration of the Constitution entitled “ Constitution Alteration (Post-war Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944”; together with Summaries of Referendums, 1906-1944.

High Commissioner Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1944, No. 172.

Lands Acquisition Act or Lands Acquisition Act and National Security (Supplementary) Regulations - Land acquired for -

Commonwealth purposes -

Adelaide River, Northern Territory.

Albany, Western Australia.

Albury, New South Wales.

Amberley, Queensland (2).

Bendigo, Victoria.

Broken Bay, New South Wales.

Bulimba, Queensland.

Camden, New South Wales.

Camooweal, Queensland.

Cecil Plains, Queensland.

Ceduna, South Australia.

Charters Towers, Queensland (2).

Colac, Victoria.

Corowa, New South Wales.

Darwin, Northern Territory.

Dubbo, New South Wales.

Eagle Farm, Queensland.

Laverton, Victoria.

Lidcombe, New South Wales.

Maribyrnong, Victoria.

Muswellbrook, New South Wales.

Normanton, Queensland.

North Ryde, New South Wales.

Oakey, Queensland.

Orange, New South Wales.

Penshurst, Victoria.

Port Melbourne, Victoria.

Truganina. Victoria.

Warracknabeal, Victoria.

Woolloomooloo, New South Wales.

Postal purposes -

Adelaide, South Australia.

Bowen, Queensland.

Brisbane, Queensland.

Carmila, Queensland.

Dalby, Queensland.

Gretna, Tasmania.

Hartwell, Victoria.

Hunter’s Hill, New South Wales.

Hurstville, New South Wales.

Melbourne, Victoria.

Morwell, Victoria.

Newtown, New South Wales.

South Melbourne, Victoria.

West Maitland, New South Wales (2).

Wonthaggi, Victoria.

Telephonic purposes - Manilla, New

South Wales.

National Security Act -

National Security (Agricultural Aids) Regulations - Orders -

Hay, straw, and chaff (New South Wales ) .

Hay, straw and chaff (Victoria).

National Security (Agricultural Machin ery ) Regulations - Order - Agricultural machinery (No. 4).

National Security (Apple and Pear Acquisition ) Regulations - Order - Apple and pear acquisition 1944-1945.

National Security (Building Operations) Regulations - Order - Building operations (Northern Territory).

National Security (Capital Issues) Regulations - Orders - Exemption (2).

National Security (Emergency Control) Regulations - Orders -

Papua and New Guinea (Administration) (No. 3).

Thursday Island Compensation Board (Cancellation ) .

National Security (Food Control) Regulations - Orders - Nos. 11-17.

National Security (General) Regulations - Orders -

Chain manufacture.

Control of -

Elastic materials (No. 2).

Essential materials (Nos. 11, 12).

Machine tools (No. 3).

Overseas communications (Otherwise than by post).

Overseas postal communications.

Overseas postal communications (Prisoners of war).

Packages ( No. 2 ) .

Feminine outerwear.

Fish (Estimates and returns).

Fishing industry secondary operatives ( Registration ) ( Revocation ) .

Heating and cooking appliances (Control of manufacture) (Revocation).

Heating and cooking appliances (Retail sales) (Revocation).

Knitted goods.

Male outerwear.

Navigation (Brisbane River and Moreton Bay - small craft) (No. 2).

Navigation (Control of public traffic) (No. 5).

Prohibited places (10).

Protected areas.

Shirts, collars and pyjamas.

Steam boilers (No. 2).

Taking possession of land, &c.( 167).

Traffic on roads.

Use of land (29).

Wireless stations control.

Woven underwear.

Orders by State Premiers -

New South Wales (Nos. 51, 52).

South Australia (No. 5 of 1944).

Tasmania (No. 30).

National Security (Man Power) Regulations - Orders - Protected undertakings (124).

National Security (Maritime Industry) Regulations - Orders - Nos. 48, 49.

National Security (Prices) Regulations -

Declarations - Nos. 149-153.

Orders- Nos. 1747-1899. National Security (Rationing) Regulations - Orders - Nos. 56-72.

National Security (Shipping Coordination) Regulations - Orders - Nos. 76-80.

National Security (Supplementary) Regulations -

Orders by State Premiers -

Queensland (dated17th January, 1945).

South Australia No. 1 of 1945).

Regulations - Statutory Rules - 1944, Nos. 166, 167, 168, 169, 174, 175, 176, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192. 1945, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13.

Statement of Australian Banking Statistics for the five quarters ended 31st December, 1944.

Naval Defence Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1944, Nos. 182, 183.

Navigation Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1944, No. 178.

Post and Telegraph Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1945, No. 10.

Quarantine Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1944, No. 184.

Science and Industry Endowment Act - Report by the Auditor-General on the accounts of the Science and Industry Endowment Fund for year 1943-44.

Seat of Government Acceptance Act and Seat of Government (Administration) Act-

Ordinances -

1944-

No. 10 - Police Superannuation.

No. 11 - Trustee.

1945-

No. 1 - Careless use of fire.

No. 2 - Race-courses.

Regulations - 1944 - No.6 (City Area

Leases Ordinance).

Women’s Employment Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1944, No. 179.

House adjourned at 3.51 p.m.

page 21

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

The following answers to questions were circulated: -

Wheat Industry

Mr Scully:
Minister for Commerce and Agriculture · GWYDIR, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

y. - On the 22nd November, 1944, the honorable member for Indi (Mr. McEwen) asked the following questions, upon notice : -

  1. What quantity of wheat, bulk and bagged, has been received into each of the No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 pools?
  2. What quantity of wheat, bulk and bagged, has been sold . from each of those pools, and what has been the average realization per bushel and total realization value - (a) for gristing into Hour for consumption in Australia; (b) for use for breakfast food manufacture in Australia; (c) for use by power alcohol distilleries; (d) for stock feed and the produce trade; (e) for sale under United Kingdom Government contract, showing each contract price and realization separately; (f) for other export contracts separately; and (g) for any other sales.
  3. What quantity of wheat remains unsold in each of those pools, showing - (a) unsold wheat, the subject of a contract; and (b) unsold wheat not the subject of any contract?
  4. What is the present estimate of wheat deliveries to the Australian Wheat Board from the forthcoming harvest?
  5. What quantity of wheat is estimated to be sold by the Australian Wheat Board as seed for next season’s sowing?
  6. What is the estimated quantity of wheat which will be disposed of prior to the 1945-46 harvest for use for the various above purposes in Australia, and for export, and what is the estimated sale price of such wheat?
  7. What subsidies, per bushel, and in total value, have been paid to the Australian Wheat Board by the Commonwealth Government on wheat sold for stock feed and to the produce trade or on account of wheat sold for any other purpose?
  8. What payments per bushel, and total payments, have been made to growers on account of quota and non-quota wheat in the above pools ?
  9. What is the present estimated total realization, bagged and bulk, of the No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 pools, taking into account the present government subsidy, on wheat sold for stock feed?
  10. What would be the estimated realization on each of those pools, and on the present estimated deliveries to the No. 8 pool, if wheat sold for stock feed, breakfast food manufacture and power alcohol and any other “ concession “ sales, were valued at the export value prevailing at the time of sale?
  11. What would be the estimated realization on each of those pools, and on the present estimated deliveries to the No. 8 pool, if wheat sold for stock feed, breakfast food manufacture and power alcohol and any other “ concession “ sales, were valued at the export value prevailing at the time of sale, and if wheat sold for gristing into flour for Australian consumption were sold at export value when such value washigher than the home price as at present determined ?

The answers to the honorable member’s questions are as follows : -

  1. Net receivals up to the 4th November, 1944 (bushels) -

2.-

  1. Unsold wheat at the 4th November, 1944-

No. 5 Pool- (a) Nil; (b) nil.

No.6 Pool -(a) Sold but not shipped under Ministry of Food Contracts, 18,811,000 bushels; (b) unsold, 4,301,000 bushels.

No. 7 Pool - (a) Sold but not shipped, nil; (b) unsold, 62,779,000 bushels.

  1. Estimated new crop 1944-45 deliveries, 37,500,000 bushels.
  2. No wheat will be sold as seed but where needed it will be re-delivered to growers.
  3. Estimated quantity of wheat which will be disposed of before the 1945-46 harvest (not including sold but not shipped shown in 3.) - Local flour, 37,000,000 bushels, 3s.11¼d. silo basis, plus flour tax (f.o.r. trucks terminal basis). Other supplies will be allocated according to need from time to time during the season. The price cannot be forecast.
  4. The subsidies paid by the Commonwealth Government on wheat sold for stock and poultry feed have been -
  1. Payments on pools -

These include advances paid in December, 1944. No. 5 pool payments are less freight.

  1. Estimated total realizations -

No. 5 Fool. - 3s. 5.2d. per bushel at country stations - Bulk basis.

No. 6 Pool-

Quota wheat, 3s. 8.5d. per bushel at country stations - Bulk basis.

Non-quota wheat, 3s. 8.5d. per bushel at country stations - Bulk basis.

No. 7 Pool-

Quota wheat, 3s. 8.9d. per bushel at country stations - Bulk basis.

Non-quota wheat, 3s. 8.9d. per bushel at country stations - Bulk basis.

  1. No. 5 Pool - 3s.6¼d. at siding - Bulk basis.

No.6 Pool - 4s. 4¼d. at siding- Bulk basis.

No. 7 Pool - 4s.9¼d. at siding- Bulk basis.

No. 8 Pool - It is estimated that all the wheat received into No. 8 Pool will be sold for local flour and that the realization will be approximately 4s.0.6d. bulk basis at country stations.

  1. No. 5 Pool and No. 6 Pool - Same as 10.

No. 7 Pool - 5s.1¼d. at sidings - Silo basis.

No. 8 Pool - Same as 10.

Supply of Foodstuffs to United Kingdom.

Mr Scully:
ALP

y. - On the 17th November, 1944, the honorable member for Barker (Mr. Archie Cameron) asked the following questions, without notice: -

  1. How many war-time foodstuff contracts have been entered into with the United Kingdom Government? 2.What was the total supply of each commodity in each contract for which the Commonwealth Government committed itself?
  2. By how much did the supplied commodity exceed or fall short of the contract?

The answer to the honorable member’s questions is as follows: -

The supply of foodstuffs to the United Kingdomhas in many cases been arranged as purchases of exportable surpluses. Therefore, it may more satisfactorily suit the honorable member’s purpose if answers to his question be set out as follows : -

Sugar. - At the outbreak of war the British Government arrangedto purchase all the exportable surpluses of sugar from the Dominions and Colonies, and to allocate it in accordance with the needs of the United Nations. It has been the practice to obtain an early estimate of the sugar crop prospects for the season, and to give the British Government an intimation of the amount of sugar that can probably be made available.

Dried Fruits. - The quantities of dried fruits contracted for and delivered were: 1940, 49,779 tons; 1941, 33,276 tons; 1942, 44,009 tons; 1943, 42,810 tons; 1944, 44,570 tons.

Canned Fruits. - The quantities offered to and accepted by the British Government and distributedin accordance with instructions from London are: 1940, 982,780 cases; 1941, 644,087 cases; 1942, 58,250 cases; 1943, nil; 1944, 300,000 cases, of which 100,000 cases have been shipped as instructed by London, and 200,000 cases are awaiting shipment.

Wheat and Flour. - Contracts entered into with the United Kingdom Government are as follows: -

With the exception of the last wheat contract (6th October, 1944), and the last Hour contract (19th January, 1944), the quantity contracted for has been supplied in all cases. The two last contracts are not yet completed, but it is anticipated that the full quantities will be supplied.

Eggs. -T he contract for the season 1939-40 was 900,000 long hundreds (300,000 cases, each 30 dozen eggs), and the quantity shipped was 340,641 cases. For 1940-41 the contract was for 412,000 cases, and 587,831 cases were shipped.

Early in 1941 the British Government advised that refrigerated space would not be available for eggs in shell, and the Commonwealth Government then undertook to arrange for the processing of available eggs into dried powder. However, contracts for 200,000 cases in shell and 700 tons of pulp were accepted for the 1041-42 season, and the shipments made totalled 100,004 cases in shell together with the equivalent of 34,000 cases as egg pulp, 700 tons egg pulp, and 1,415 tons egg powder.

During 1042-43, owing to the heavy increase in service demands in the Pacific area, only 115 tons egg powder were shipped.

For 1943-44 no quantity was contracted for beyond any egg power available after providing for greatly increased service needs, and none was shipped.

The British Government recently undertook to purchase the whole of the exportable surplus of eggs as powder, or, if circumstances permit, a? eggs in shell, for the seasons 1944-45 and 1345-46, and a quantity not exceeding 1,000,000 cases each 30 dozen eggs or their equivalent in egg powder for the season 1946-47.

Dairy Products. - 1939-40: The contract which covered the period November, 1939 to June, 1940, provided for 75,000 tons of butter and 13,000 tons of cheese, against which «0,8S2 tons of butter and 11,063 tons of cheese were shipped. 1040-41 : Despite the difficulties of supplying refrigerated shipping space, the British Go- vernment requested that 100,000 tons of butter and 20,000 tons of cheese be shipped. However, man-power difficulties were already being experienced and only 77,843 tons of butter and 10,118 tons of cheese were exported under the contra et. 11141-42: This year there was a change in the policy of the British Government in that the principal demand was for cheese, which mcn nt that manufacturers of butter were asked to install cheese plants. The contract covered up to 57,000 tons of butter and 40,000 tons of cheese, and the quantities shipped were 46,847 tons of butter and 6,569 tons of cheese. 1942- 43: During the year the demand again changed back to butter as being first priority, but heavy demands were made on Australian production . by the Australian and Allied services based on Australia. The quantities asked for by the United Kingdom were 70,000 t.ms of butter and 10,000 tons of cheese, whilst the shipments were 48,911 tons of butter and 6.067 tons of cheese. 1943- 44: In this year, whilst the British Government did first mention 55,000 tons of butter, the final allocation was arrived at after agreement between the Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia on the basis of the maximum quantity available, viz., 40,000 tons. The actual shipments totalled 41,564 tons.

Wherever possible, the necessary diversions of whole milk to condenseries to meet the condensed and dried milk demands of the services wore made from cheese factories as the United Kingdom Government had indicated that after the butter quota had been met it would take any surplus up to 10,000 tons of cheese. A quantity of 3,750 tons of cheese was shipped. 1044-45”. The position for this year is that the British Government requires 50,000 tons cf butter and any cheese that is available.

However, it is estimated that the heavy demands of the services on the reduced production owing to the long drought will only permit the export of a maximum of 40,000 tons of butter.

Meat. - 1939-40: The contract provided for 240,000 tons of carcass meat, against which shipments totalled 272,000 tons. 1940- 41: The quantity originally mentioned for this year was 81,000 tons including 54,000 tons for the services. This big reduction from the previous year was suggested because of shipping difficulties. Subsequently, quantities were increased to 154,000 tons and then to 198,000 tons. Actual shipments were recorded at 200,500 tons. 1941- 42: The British Government informed the Commonwealth Government that the maximum refrigerated tonnage which could be made available for shipment of meat from Australia would be 110,000 tons for the contract year. At the same time a request was made for Australia to endeavour to ship meat in other than fresh frozen form, namely canned and dehydrated. Shipments of fresh frozen meat made from Australia were 112,703 tons. 1942- 43: Refrigerated shipping space was the predominant factor in this year, during which increasingly heavy demands were being made on this country for supplies for our own armed forces and for American and Allied forces based on Australia.

The British Government requested from Australia maximum quantities of meat available after Australian civilian and all service requirements had been mct.

Shipments of fresh frozen meat totalled 105,751 tons, against the nominal contract figure of 110,000 tons, while the carcass equivalent of canned meats was 28,000 tons, and dehydrated moat 4,321 tons, the over-all total being 138,072 tons carcass equivalent. These figures do not include British Admiralty requirements which were met in full. 194.3-44: A slightly different procedure was adopted in regard to 1944, when the Commonwealth Government, after consultation and agreement with the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America, allocated 1944 meat production on the basis of demands.

The United Kingdom allocation for 1944 was -

Actual shipments against this allocation were -

These figures do not include shipments against British Admiralty requirements, which arc additional.

Cite as: Australia, House of Representatives, Debates, 21 February 1945, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/hofreps/1945/19450221_reps_17_181/>.

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