BEEF TRUST INVASION ?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 839, 10 June 1910, Page 8

BEEF TRUST INVASION ?

BWIFT'S ; AGENTS IN AUSTRALIA.

Some speculation has been caused in the meat trade in Melbourne by the presence in Australia of two agents of Swift and Co., the great Chicago meat firm. One of the visitors, Mr. Otto. G. Malcow, a responsible representative of the firm's financial department, was in Australia and New Zealand two years ago, and he made such exhaustive inquiries iuto the meat business that he was able to present a monumental report , to his principals in Chicago. Australian shipping men who have • seen the report inform the . Sydney "Telegraph" that Mr. Malcow, by going quietly about the cattle yards and freezing works, was ablq to get together more complete information than is possessed by any one of the local wholeBale meat merchants. _ Only a few months ago Mr. Malcow again came under the observation of the Australian trade by purchasing for his firm, the extensive La Plata freezing woris, owned by Messrs. John Cooke and TIo., of Melbourne, in the Argentine. Now he has brought out to' Australia Mr. Kauffmann, one of Swift and'Co.'s expert stockmen, ■ and they have made an exhaustive tour of freezing stores and stockyards. When last here Mr. Jlalcow had letters .of introduction to leading exporters, ' but on this occasion he has not been seen much by them. The visitors have been through Melbourne and Sydney, and it is regarded as, perhaps, a coincidence that one or two American stockmen have since made applications for work in local'meat concerns. So far as can be gathered, employers have not been able to find room for them. Messrs. Malcow : and Kauffmann are now in Queensland, and it is rumoured that they have opened negotiations to purchase laud in Brisbane. ■■'...-

The Americans are at present very short of beef, as- was pointed out editorially in The Dominion recently, and it is possible that Mr. Jlalcow is looking for fresh fields of supply. The bulk of the beef shipped from Australia is raised in Queensland, the frozen beef export figures for last year being :—Queensland, .£704,550; Victoria, .£16,714; and New South Wales, .£11,946. Now Zealand's export of frozen beef for the twelve months ending May 31 last, was valued at .£573,155, and for the preceding twelve months the figure was ,£452,396. Mr.' Malcow on his previous visit went right through New Zealand and was twice in Wellington. Be was stated to have made -very detailed inquiries as to the conditions and management of the meat trade, but very little information was gathered as to the precise objects of the tour;- Kumours also gained currency that a firm having a large connection in Australia and New Zealand had an; arrangement with Messrs. Swift and Company, but this was denied. It is stated, that. Mr. Malcow purchased sample lots of the different brands of New Zealand frozen meats and shipped them home to. his. principals. .-•-:• - 1 .•■ • In his report in 1908 Mr. H. C. Cam-, eron, Government.-Produce Commissioner in London, stated:—"For a considerable' time large American meat companies .that have developed an immense and extended trade in chilled beef have been increasing the supply to their regular customers of New Zealand mutton; associated and'retailed with their chilled beef, which has now a deservedly high'repute, and with this object their agents- have made; purchases of the mutton on'behalf of their clients. It has been rumoured, on more than one occasion l that' North American, meat companies have endeavoured'to get a footing in New Zealand in order to secure regular supplies; but it would ap-. pear that they have beeri unsuccessful in their efforts. That they have been determined to secure mutton supplies, how-; ever, is evident,.' 1 for Messrs. Swift, one of the strongest and most energetic of these companies, have acquired the .La Plata freezing works in'the 'Argentine, and- have commenced the importation of River Plate mutton on their own account for the supply of their retail customers. This firm has now distributing depots in all the chief centres of the country, and if the set is followed by the other North American meat companies it is apparent that such competition will be established ■in the meat market as must reflect very detrimentally, on the New Zealand trade."