THE MENACE OF THE MEAT TRUST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 85, 4 January 1919, Page 8

THE MENACE OF THE MEAT TRUST

1, , AN AUSTRALIAN'S EXPERIENCE DEMAND FOR INVESTIGATION "I am strongly in favour of a thorough inquiry into the operations of the . Moat Trust,* , said Sir John Taverner, late i Agent-General for Queensland) in Lon- ; don a few weeks ago. Sir John hns a | wide knowledge of conditions in the meat trade. " . . . "We want a level-headed, non-interest- ' cd commission to investigate .the whole : question," added Sir John • Taverner. : "My great complaint against the Imper- i iivl Government is that they ignore bonafide competition, which is most essential in the interests of the consumer and of i the Government. ." .- "Take a case of which I have personal knowledge. In October, .1917, I saw Sir Thomas Robinson, the Agent-General for. Queensland, who was buying meat on behalf of the Government, and- told- him that I was in a position to offer 100,000 head of cattle on the hoof in Texas from people outside .the American Ment Trust. "These cattle were to be taken to Galveston, and there slaughtered and frozen for shipment to England. There would be 25,000 tons of meat at a price equivalent to 7Jd. per lb. delivered, in Liverpool. Deliveries could be made at orice, subject to shipping facilities. As you know, the Government control all the ships with freezing-installations. . "Sir Thomas Robinson informed me that it was doubtful -whether shipping would be' available, and. that an agreement had been made with the American Government regarding purchases in America. It was thought better by the Board of Trade that the Food Ministry should deal with the proposition. ..-.'' \"I waited a month, and it was not until I wrote to Mr. ■'.dynes personally that.l received any reply. Then-1 met with very curt consideration from Mr. Boyes. He said :■'We are arranging to do our own buying in. America.Mt seems to me a mistake not to encourage bonafide competition. 'After the recent report of the American Federal Trade Com- ; missioner as the operations of the Meat Trust, it can'hardly, he possible for the Food Ministry to shelter themselves behind the American Government. ; "Mutton in Australia ,was commandeered by the' Government, and cheerfully relinquished by the producers at 6d. per lb. ,It cost Id. per lb. to deliver'hero, and should have been sold with a reas- , or.able profit at, 9Jd. to 10d. per lb. ■ In-- . stead, it was sold" at Is. Gd. and Is. Bd., and Australia wrote me indignantly : when they heard of these high prices charged for the meat they relinquished .nt 6d. per'-lb. . . . ' ■ ■', "When complaint was made here we were told that' the Government had to average up their prices. In other words, they used this Australian meat to make' up their losses' on the excessive prices (hey had paid to tho American Moat Tnist. ■■■■••.•' "It has'always seemed the greatest injustice that the Australian meat, whi<}h , is cheap, should be handed over to our , Allies, while the British .people should be left to the dear meat of the-Ameri- • can Trust. That is why I think that tljere should be thorough and impartial ', inquiry. The Americans have had an in- ! quiry; why should not. we follow'their example?". ■ .. ■ ■.