MEAT CONTROL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12607, 18 November 1926, Page 7

MEAT CONTROL

“TRUST IMPOSSIBLE” BOARD’S ATTITUDE EXPLAINED REFUSAL TO TRANSFER LICENSE per Press Association ■ AUCKLAND, November 17. At a meeting of farmers addressed by Mr D. Jones, chairman of tile Meat Control Board, and Mr R. S. Forsyth, London manager of the board, Mr C. C. Munro, chairman of the meeting, said that one question that was exercising the minds of farmers was, “Whether, seeing the Meat Control Board had refused the transfer of the license of the Wellington Meat Export Company the board had gone into the question of financial assistance for any meat companies in difficulties?” Mr Jones said tho attitude the board took up was that amalgamation of all proprietary interests in the Dominion would not be in the interests of farmers. If there was a merger into one big company the interest alone would be more than the cost of export today, including killing. There would be no competition amongst freezing companies, and competition was always appreciated. In the board’s opinion the wiping out of proprietary interests in New Zealand would be suicidal. The chairman asked, “Whether in the event of a merger not being practicable, had the board considered rendering assistance to companies which were so loaded by guarantees, etc., that they could not carry on?” Mr Jones said there was no suggestion of the board taking any such action. There were half a dozen freezing companies in difficulties, but the hoard could not see why it should render financial assistance. Dealing with the fears of a trust getting control, Mr Jones said there was no possibility of that, because the Meat Board would step in and grip the trust. The trust could not grip the board.