THE MEAT TRUST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 60, 5 December 1918, Page 8

THE MEAT TRUST

MUST BE RESISTED. ' A suggestion that (he Prime Minister should obtain during his'■ visit to the. XJnited. Kingdom the fullest possible information about the operations of the Meat Trust was ma'de in the House of Representatives by Mr. W. Nosworthy (.Ashburton). The member suggested that the Prime Minister should try to -secure the sort of information that would /issist the New Zealand farmers in resisting the encroachments of the. Trust. Mr. Massey said he would give the matter his attention in London. "When I Ret an opportunity," • he said, "I shall again express to the Imperial authorities my opinion of the danger to the whole o"f the Empire of the Meat Trust being allowed to establish itself in this Dominion and in the heart of the Empire itself. I did so to a , certain extent while in England on the last occasion, and my opinions were endorsed by the Minister of Finance. I believe they had some weight with/ the Imperial Government. "I have read the report of the commission set up by the American Government to inquire into the operations of the Meat Trust, mid I would very much like to see that report in tho hands of every fanner in New, Zealand, so that the farmers might realise the importance of keeping the Trust at a distance. ■ .There is a Bill before this House now. dealing with the Meat Trust. "It has been referred to the Stock Committee, and I hope it will be passed into law Before.the end of the present session." The Minister of Fin«nce\ 'Sir Joseph Ward) eaid he also had made strong representations to- the Imperial authorities on this question.. He would be very glad.to'do eo again. He. recognised the danger to this country or to any country .if the great financial interests that.handled meat; in the United• States were allowed to get a footing. Ho tphonjrht that the New Zealand Govern-/ ment' would require by legislation to have increased control, in order to protest the interests of the producers ,in this conntry. The Meat Trust had got a firm footing in the United States, and the Government there found it hard to handle., .