THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16414, 7 January 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. THE WHEAT PURCHASE. (I'UISS* association tklsgium.) WELLINGTON. January G. To-dav C«!>inot considered tho ;irrangement of details connected nun t wheat purchase. It is understood that no material change was made in the proposals submitted a lew \\ceUs ago 'vix., (3s fid ]>«i" bushel for all good muling grades of \vh?at. THE MENACE OF THE MEAT TiiUST. i AN AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE.

"I ant strongly in favour of a j:* l ® 1 '" ou«h inquiry into the operations of tho Moat Trust," said Sir John lavenor, late Agent-General for Queensland, in London a few weeks ago. Sir John has a wide knowledge of conditions in the Lifted commission to im whole question," added Sir John Tavorner. ".My gieat complaint against the Imperial Government is that tlicy ignore bona fide most essential in tho interests of consuiucr and of tho Government. "Take a case of which I ha\e personal knowledge. In Octobei, saw Sir Thomas Kobinson tho AgentGeneral for Queensland. who was buying meat on behalf of tlie Government, and told him that I was in a position to offer 100,000 bead of cattle on tho hoof in Texas from people outside tho American Meat Trust. "These cattle wore to bo taken to Galveston, and there slaugliterod and frozen for shipment to England There would be 25,000 tons of meat at a price equivalent to 71d per lb, delivered m Liverpool. Deliveries could be mfido at once, subject to shipping facilities. As vnii' know, tho Government control 'all tho shins with freezing_installation*. "Sir Thomas Hobinson nuormed mo that it was doubtful whether snipping would be available, and that an agreement had been made with the American Government regarding purchases in \morica. It was thought bettei by the Board of Trade that the lood/Mmistrv should deal with tho proposition. "I waited a month, and it was not until I wrote to Mr Clynes personally that I received any reply. Tlion Im t with verv curt consideration from Mr loycs. 'He said: 'Wo are arranging to do our own buying m America. It seems to mo a mistake not to encourage bona-fide competition. After the ieX report of the American Federal Trade Commissioner as to tho opeiations of the Meat Trust, it can hardly be possible for the Food Ministry to shelter themselves behind tho Amoncan GoMutton in Australia was commandeered by the Goveniment, and cheerfully relinquished by the producers at fld per lb. It cost Id per lb to deliver here, and should have been sold with a reasonable profit at W gd' Instead, it was sold at Is bd and Is Bd, and Australia wrote mo indignantly when thc-y heard of these high prices charged for the meat they relinquished at 6d nor lb. , "When complaint was made here «e wore told that the. Government had to average up their prices. In other words, thev used this Australian meat to make up 'their losses on the excessive prices they had paid to tho American Meat has always seemed the greatest iniustice that tho Australian meat, which is cheat}, should be handed over to our Allies, "while tho British people should be left to tho dear meat of tho American Trust. That is why I think that there should be thorough and impartial inquiry. The Americans have had an inquiry; why should not we follow their'example?"