THE MEAT TRUST

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3127, 4 July 1917, Page 10

THE MEAT TRUST

GOVERNMENT ACTION ESSENTIAL SIR JOSEPH WARD'S PROPOSAL An outskopeh reference to tho operations of Hue Meat Trust was made by Sir Joseph Ward in the House of Representatives last evening. Tho Minister (•aid that during 1016 the United Kingdom had imported 160,000 tons of meat, and of that quantity 260,000 tons had passed through the hands of the American, Meat Tl-ust. Tho organisation was operating on a very big scale indeed. "This Government and this Parliament are powerless to deal with the Trust unless the British i Government co-operates," said Sir Joseph Ward! *?We can pass any laws wo liko at this end, but we will not be'able to reach . an organisation that did business to the nmount of .£250,000,000'' last year. The Trust is established at the other side of the world, and it is able*to pay higher prices.'than any New Zealand merchant or agent can pay there, thus controlling the-whole of our supplies outside the Those w.ho are opposed to the Irust realise that it is only a matter of time when they must knurMo down to it'tor. go out of business if this state of affairs continues.

"The key to the position is the supply of beef. The butchers of the Old Country must go to the Trust for their beef. The Americans control most of the, Queensland beef as well as the Argentine supply. If the butchers do not go to the Trust for their beef, they stand a good chance of getting no mutton. If we" are to solve this question, we must turn to the system of distribution in the United Kingdom. It is a question, of whether the British Government is prepared to join with the oversea countries in buying all the beef imported into Britain, and then arranging for the distribution. There is no use indulging in any sentijnentalism on the subject. The whole of the meat exported from this countrv last? year was worth £7,000,000. The "Meat Trust Jwfd business amounting to ..£250,000,000 last year. "There is a farmers' company in thi3 country controlling freezing works that is selling meat to the Trust. The company is selling simply because the Trust pays the best price. Do the farmers approve of that? I do not blame tho company particularly. The Trust is a .. fact that. we have to face. The only remedy I can snggest is that tho' British Governpient should join with us in the' ■purchase of meat, the New Zonlaud Government buying hero and the British .Government buying in'tho United Kingdom and 'arranging for distribution. Then wo would have the matter in our own hands. No private organisation in this country can deal with the Trust. None of the ordinary meat interests in' ■the United Kingdom can do it. Tho Trust can be fought successfully only by State action on a comprehensive 6cale.