THE MEAT TRUST.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 8

THE MEAT TRUST.

THE MINISTER'S UNACCEPTED SCHEME. IBy. Tcfcgraph.— Spccial Correspondent.!. Clirlstchurcli, March 10. Interviewed by a' "Press" reporter to-day, the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie brioliy discussed the Beef Trust. He remarked that tho Government had its eye on 6very move in the game. It was reported that the trust had subscribed £18,000,000 moro debentures amongst the half-dozon men forming tho trust. Tho Minister expressed regret that the scheme ho advocatod in England some years ago -for the control of the New Zealand output had not been adopted.- The question of distribution at the other end was a very important one; and had his schemo been adopted no American trust could have • upset things now. At that time there was great difficulty in obtaining satisfactory terms for producers, either by selling on the market or selling ex ship c.i.f. The difficulty aroso through claims for "not up to quality and damage," and, also, tho trouble in finding out what meat was sold 011 the market, and tho exact amount realised by its sale. The producer's interests would have been- : absolutely" safeguarded if a market had been established near Smithfiold from which the whole of. the New Zealand output, could have been controlled. About half an aero of land within 50 yards of 'Smithfiold, connected by rail with tho Loudon Dock, where tho vessels discharged, was offered. At that time lie asked the Government to guqranteo a loan sufficient to .finance the undertaking, and also that New .Zealand meat .should bo put through. that channel. Ho montionod tho, scheme to several leading men, but, with tho exception of the late Sir John M'Kenzie, nono of them seriously considered tho plan.

Tho schcme would have suited at tho time, but, as ho had not been at Home for : niany years, -ho could not venture an opinion ns to its prospccts of success if., adpptpfl now.; ~A rerj; dp'.al had been doiib since'theri to'place New' Zealand produce on a much more satisfactory footing.' His only reason for referring to tho scheme was that one of its cardinal points was the controlling, of,iho entire output, which.: could bv now have so thoroughly established New Zealand meat by tho process of distribution, that it could not hove been interfered with by tho Meat Trust. Indeed. at that time, ho had discussed with Mr. Swift (of Swift and Company) the propriety of uniting bis company's chilled beef with New Zealand mutton mid lamb, which at .that time might hayo been well worked together through the samo agenci:s.