MEAT TRUSTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2903, 16 October 1916, Page 6

MEAT TRUSTS

ENEMIES OF THE FARMER

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

The operations of the American meats trusts, as they affect many of the farmers of tho United States, were described to a Dominion reporter on Saturday by a gentleman who was able to speak from personal experience. About nino years ago this gentleman w : ent to the "United States with the intention of going upon tho land in that country. Ho secured a small farm in tho Stato of Connecticut, not far from Hartford, and p,i tho outsto- jyas pleased with his prospects.. The land was cheap, according to New Zealand standards, arid its quality was good. His idea was to raise cattle.

"I found that it was impossiblo for me to raise cattle for profit," ho said, "because tho local markets were closed against mo. The meat trusts had full control. They would buy stock—at their own. price. No butcher could buy direct Trom us", since if lio / did he woulJ* be denied supplies by the trusts. To quote an actual example, a friend of mine had a couple of oxen, whioh bo with tho plough. Ho wanted to sell the beasts at the end of tho season to the local butcher, hut the butchor replied that he could not buy without the permission of the ropresontativo of the packers. The community was completely under the thumb of the meat trusts as far as beef and mutton supplies woro concerned. We farmers were permitted to sell calves and. pigs in tho ordinary markets, but that was all.

"Naturally, the prico paid for meat by consumers was high, while tho prico paid to tile producers was low. Tho farmer had to soil his cattle to tho trusts if ho sold at all, and accept the price that was offered him. Tho retailer iad to get his supplies from tho trusts, at their price, and accept their conditions as to the conduct of his business. If he offended the trusts, then ho would bo forced out of business.

, "I came back to Now Zealand after remaining in Connecticut for nino months. lam quite sure, from what I saw and heard myself, that tho farmers will, have reason to bo vory sorry indeed if the American trusts get a secure footing in this country. Tho Americans, who aro stated to be activo hero already, will pay high prices as long as it is necessary for them to do so in order to got a grip of the market; but whon they have taken hold firmly they will penalise tho farmer as well as the consumer. Tho basis of their system is monopoly, and thcro is no reason to boliovo that they' will prove less dangerous to the farmer in this country than they have done'in their own land."