THE MEAT TRUST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2164, 17 August 1920, Page 3

THE MEAT TRUST.

WAHLVRAPA FARMER,A FEAR IT.

A big meeting of Wairarapa farmers was held at Masterton on Saturday, and after Mr W. Perry, a member, of the Board of Agriculture, had delivered an address in which he strongly attacked trust methods, the following motion was carried unanimously:—“That this meeting of farmers views with alarm the efforts now being made to urge the Government to grant a meat-trading license in New Zealand to Armour and Co., and would strongly urge the Government to do all within its powers to keep combines, such as the Meat Trust, from operating.in New Zealand.” Mr Perry said that if the Trust obtained a footing in New Zealand the whole country would suffer, not only the fanners. The Canterbury sheep farmers had made much of the fact that competition was needmi if the host prices were to he obtained. One fact had been carefully hidden, namely that meat could be sold f.o.b. to anybody in tiro world and (hen disposed of anywhere in Ihe world. The Globe newspaper, which recently obtained large supplies of New Zealand mutton tor disposal in America, did not require a license to receive the meat. It was simply purchased f.o.b. and then shipped to America. Armour had stated that it did not desire to erect freezing works. That was all very well for'the present, hut what would be the ultimate position ? Air Perry answered several statements which have been published oh behalf of the Trust in a pamphlet entitled “The Truth About the -Meat Trust.”

Several others spoke against allowing the Trust to obtain a footing in New Zealand.