THE MEAT TRUST

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2211, 25 July 1914, Page 6

THE MEAT TRUST

MENACE OF THE OCTOPUS

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS

ALERT

PRESENCE FELT ALREADY

Fear that the American Meat Trust niay get a footing in New Zealand in the future was' expressed yesterday by somo delegates to tho Dominion Conference of the Now Zealand' Farmers' Union.. . ' ...■'■■

A. discussion on tho subject was com-, menced when the following Wellington remit was moved:— •'

■'That tho Government aliould be asked to watch tho operations of meat trusts,, with a view to preventing them operating in 'New Zealand.": .

fho mover, Mr. H. A. Nevins, of Tenui, observed that it had been, said that the Trust would give the farmers a good price for their meat, and that more could not bo expected. "They will do that," ho continued, "but when they take it Home they will sell it at a price which our companies cannot look at. They will kill our trade, and then kill our companies here,' and then give us what price they like." It was not in their own future interests to sell to anyone who came along and offered a little more, than BOmcone else. Ho ■thought, 'therefore, that thoy should ask the Government to keep a vigilant eye on the Trust.

Mr.. Masefield seconded the potion. Ho thought that the Trust was a great menace to New Zealand. A leading meat merchant ,had offered .to bet him that .in. five'years the Americans would control tho trade in New Zealand meat.

Mr. James Begg (Otago) did not think that there was any need for alarm, but ho did not think it would do any harm to ask the Government to watch the matter. ■ . ■ ,

: Tho opinion .was expressed by some delegates that, the Trust would move to get control of tho shipping. , >.

Mr. F. S. Pope, SecretaiT -for Agriculture, said,that Dr. Reakes.(the head of the Division of the Department of Agriculture) had beeii watchinp; the Trust operations for years/ and he suggested tliat Dr. .Keakes should be asked to speak.

Dr. Heakes said that in the many years during which he had. watched the matter he had acquired a good deal of information.' Of course, a great deal of it was of a strictly confidential nature, and, therefore',,..he could not go very fully into the matter. It would be very foolish to make a bogey of the Meat Trust, and on the other hand it wouldbe very, foolish to ignore the possibilities of the trouble which could be caused through the operations of any big Trusty me.it or otherwise. Ho thought it quito aight to be on guard, and to 'act on the old proverb: "Forewarned is - fore-armed." He said the ■Department was doing its best to learn of everything that was happening. . Mr. J. M'Queen (Southland) : said that the Trust must have enormous capital >to get into Queensland" as it had done. In' his opinion the Trust was now working in New Zealand, and its. aim ■in the future would.be to get control of the shipping.. He did not know what New Zealand' could, do to meet the evil —they must, he felt, wait and see. Some farmers woald systematically send their stock to their own works, but those men could almost'be counted on the fingers of one's hands, for the majority would send to anyone else who would give a halfpenny more. '. ...

Mr. E. Campbell (Wanganui) said that t'he, Trust was the biggest factor in the British market to-day, and they had agents; throughout, the world. ..They knew the .Trust was. now operating in New Zealand, but; he did not think Now Zealand could do anything in the way of interference.. They wouldi simply .'have to bear it and. make the best of it. Last year ah agent of the Trust stated in New Zealand that, whatever a certain Wellington company paid, he (the Trust manager) would;pay Is. more for sheep.- ''We know-the Trust is here already," said Mr. Campbell, "but we can't prove it." A delegate:- Wo know it, though. The motion was then set. aside, in favour of ,the following 'Auckland re-. Kit, which was carried:— ' ' . ■." "That this conference should urge the Government to carefully watch the operations of the meat and other trusts." . It was also decided to thank the Government for having kept a close watch on the-matter.