FROZEN MEAT FOR AMERICA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1629, 21 December 1912, Page 10

FROZEN MEAT FOR AMERICA.

BIG BEEF WAR FORESHADOWED. AUSTRALIA CUTTING PRICES. A cablegram from Sydney, dated December IS, stated that it was reported that several large meat concerns in San Francisco wero negotiating with a view to opening trado in Australian frozen meat with America. It was also stated that if tho scheme eventuated important developments were anticipated. Some light on the above is thrown by tho following item published in the "Financial Times" of November 14, from its San Francisco correspondent:— ■ Developments on the Pacific Coast foreshadow a mighty beef war, which will affect the whole of the United States and Canada. Tho fight to reduce the exorbitant meat prices will have its inception at the end of November at San Francisco, California. Sydney Kidman, representing his undo, who is known as the "Australian Cattl'o King," will arrive in San Francisco direct from Sydney, N.S.W., prepared to start a trade war against tho so-called Beef Trust that may resolvo itself into the 'fiercest conflict which the American cattle barons have ever experienced. He proposes to make a careful survey of the whole United States, confining his attention first to the Pacific Coast, where he has been advised that an excellent opportunity offers to dispose of refrigerated beef and mutton. Should he succeed in obtaining a satisfactory freight rate, the Hon. P. E. Quinn, - M.P., ■ Acting Commissioner for New South Wales, declared at San Francisco that in all probability the Kidmans will extend their operations from the Pacific Coast as far east as the.Missouri River. / _ In discussing the matter, Mr. Quinn said: "The Ividmans are' tho biggest packers in all Australia, and they do a tremendous business with England now. They own their own herds, and it is a from hoof-to-table proposition with them. I know they have had their eyes on America as a possible market for some tiino; but possibly' might have delayed action were it not for the fact that the Swift Company has invaded Australia, and is building a huge place at Brisbane, Queensland, now. The Legislatures of tno several Australian States are very' much disturbed over this invnmon by tho American Meat Trust, and if any effort be made to advance prices they will certainly pass anti-monopoly legislation, which will bear hard on the Swifts. Mean, whilo, the Ividmans propose to carry the 'war' into South Africa. "The labouring people of Australia recently took in hand the high costs of living and settled it to their entire satisfaction. There was a big shortage, and tho price of beef rose locally. Then tho water-front workers notified the packers that no more vessels should be loaded with refrigerated beef for England until the local price returned to normal. Tho scheme worked, aritl-beef was sold at the former price." Mr. T. A. Fricke, of San Francisco, who represents Victoria, Australia, in Canada, and the United States, told the "Financial Times's" correspondent that the meat retail sellers of California were so disgusted at local conditions that they had met him and entered into negotiations with a view to. throwing off the yokeof-the jraspi ing American Heat Trust and securing shipments on a large scale from Australia of beef and mutton. They complained that the Meat Trust made too much money out of the meat and did not give tho retailors a fair deal. The retailers were disgusted. Tho Australian-San Francisco shipping companies were prepared to assist, and refrigerating chambers would bp built at San Francisco.