MEAT AND SHIPPING PROBLEMS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 290, 6 July 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

MEAT AND SHIPPING PROBLEMS

There lias ju-t been published in pamphlet form a .series of articles by Mr W. Douglas Lysnar, of Gisborue, in which that gentleman deals exhaustively with ihe meat and shipping problems as they exist to-day. Mr Lysnar's main purpose is to expose what may lie termed the twin evils of Traitor Trusts and Traitor Profiteers, which, he alleges, hav.o been working in unholy alliance ever since the war commenced, and, indeed, long before it commenced. The statement made by Mr Lysnar should be carefully read and earnestly considered by every Xew Zealander, for, while the baleful operations of the Meat Trust and the Shipping Ring mav be said to primarily concern the farmer-;, it is an indisputable fact that whatever affects the farmers adversely must inevitably react upon every other section of the community. Tiie facts and figure; cited by Mr Lysnar are in many respects startling, and in the national interests the Government should lose no time in putting them to the t">t of a thorough and impartial investigation. If they are capable <>f substantiation —and of that Mr Lysnar at least has no doubt —then assuredly it is the duty of tiie Government to evolve, and enact ;:s quickly as possible, tiie necessary remedial measures. Mr Lysnar states the position, as he sees it, very clearlv:

"V.Y are fighting the Germans *oday; the next greatest fight after wo have disposed of them will be the fight against the Trnsts, whose plan it is to work on the brutal cornering of markets by sneer weight of capital. From the economic standpoint we have got as much to fear from the Trusts as we have from tho Germans. The Trusts are seeking to dominate the world by finance as the Germans are seeking to dominate it by brute force. 1 note that an Engli.-h paper tho other day aptly characterised the Meat Trust as 'commercial Huns from the Chicago Jungle'; and, while we are fighting tho Germans on the battlefield, we must not lose sight of the Trust men. ace in the commercial field. We aro quite able, if we equip ourselves properly, to wage battle in the two directions at oue and the same time; and it is imperative that we should do so, otherwise the Trusts will gain such momentum, such power, and such control over our business and trade during the war as will make the light that'must come sooner or later —and the sooner the better — far more difficult to win."

When the European war broke out, the rival companies, scenting profit-, ceased their antagonism and pooled their interests under American leadership, concerning which the "Times cf the River Plate" remarked: "We understand that all the freezing companies have buried their differences, and trade is apportioned out in certain percentages, the American firms having the lion's share. We imagine that pcice will rule until our Yankee friends consider they arc entitled to a little bit more." The new monopoly resulted in a prompt rise of 50 per cent in meat prices, the Government weakly capitulating in the first instance, and the market following alter. From that time onwards the Argentine companies have prospered exceedingly. While on this point, Mr Lysnar remarked that it 1.1 very curious that the Focd Prices Commission faded to discover these large profits, despite the fact that they were published in tiic last June number of "Cold Storage." Like other trusts, the combination of American meat companies has neycr deviated from the. policy of untiring efforts for the. extinction of free competition, effecting ill is either by overpowering concerted action in tho food markets, or by the acquisition at high prices of opposing undertakings. The huge sums spent by the American Meat Trust in this lavish purchase of rival works arc calculated !to tempt the unwary pastoralist or j works-owner to surrender his birthright. To that extent is trust policy a grave danger to individual and national interests. Such, in Mr Lysnar s opinion, is the menace of foreign capitalism that is now confronting the me.it producers of the British Empire, and, ho adds, many aro questioning whether it is not now too late to avert the danger. New Zealand i» the latest ground chosen for the operations of I the foreign capitalist. After quoting some startling figures illustrative cf the enormous profits made by the Trust Mr Lysnar points out that these huge piolits aro secured by forcing down the prices tiie Trust pays to the fanners for the 11.eat, and by forcing up

dor, and chop it finely; add the sausage ineit, breadcrumbs, parsley, pepper and salt, and a grate of nutmeg, stuff the turkey'.-, crop with this lone, and over the breast with tho slices of smoked beef, alter having rubbed the bird witii a -lice of lemon. Then wrap the turkey in a piece of well-floured muslin, and place it in a stewpan with the onion- (one stuck with cloves), the leek and a head of celery cut into lengths and tied up toogther, tne carrot and the maee; i over it with hot stock, let the latter boil up, skim it, and then simmer the turkey gently for two hour-. Serve with celery sauve.

I'RUIT COM POT K. A delicious Christmas is r'ruit Cumpoti*. Ii i - made with two hananas, one orange, one small tin of piue-a;pplt . hall a pound (it mixed jira.jK"., mi,' Miner each of sweet ■:;.'.iiioi'ils and >'i ■■ *t gelatine, hall' a pound of prunes, and half a pint oi (ream. IJl'iiich the almond-, arrange tlic tiaiits in a largo <f|jt-s dish, -..ak gelatine for an hour in water enough to cover it, and hoi| it in tin- jui v from tin' pinoippli-. When coal, pour this over the fruit, and when the gelatine is s(t. divide the ereain in two I'a.sin-, colitllr one |Nil'lioll with -is drops of cochineal, whi|) Ikilli portion-*. and arrange tln-in on the top of the <• inpote. A THOICIIT KOH Till", VYKKK.

The '.mat trials that come to all of us, one time or another, will he far easier to lii'.ir ii We have le irie 1 patience and self- introl in the hard s.hool of daily life. Again, in proportion to our i-ell-rentrol fm\ tlar patience Ls the power that trifl»>s liavr to annov us.

*.hc pries that the consumer pays to the Trust. This aspect of the matter can periiaps, be best understood and appreciated from an article appearing in a recent issuo of the "British Citizen and Empire Worker," published in England, in winch it is stated: "Tho workers have had ample experience of the power of control possessed by a few foreign capitalists. Last week in Smithfield, South Ame_ rican forequartcr flanks of beef made 6s. a stone, or Od. a pound. This is not simply the meat of the poorit is the meat of the very poor, that which you see cut in single bono joints and sold on Sunday mornings in maikets like Angel Lane, Stratford. And, remember, this is not tho retail price, but the wholesale quotation."

Mr. Lysnar furthor quotes the sauio journal as saying that the meat trusts, "in addition to the domination they have obtained in the Argentine and Uruguay, arc extending to Brazil and commencing operations in. Australia and New Zealand. Tine method in each case is the same—tiio breaking down of opposition by sheer weight of capital, the prices being earned to such :• point that all rivals are glad to submit and work under American leadership. Will Thome, M.P., has put up a tremendous battle in Parliament again-t tho domination of the Chicago Trust." Another very noticeable phase of the subject, says Mr Lysnar, "is the ini-mon.-e power of the meat trusts, even, it would seem, to the extent of domin, ating the Imperial authorities during tho stress of this war; and I fear that they are also dominating at the New Zealand end." Mr Lysnar has not only pointed out the evil, but he has also suggested remedies.", which would go far to minimise, if they did not absolutely root out, this traitor "profiteering." Ho suggests, in the first place, the control of shipping by independent and disinterested committees here and at Home; and, m the second place, ho urges that tho Imperial Government should seo to it that any surplus meat —any meat not required for the Army 01 tho Navy—is distributed in tho United Kingdom through channels which are known not to be associated with the meat trust-, tor sale to consumers at the actual cost plus all proper charges and allowances. For th:s purpose lie recommends that a commute arsaerable only to the Imperial Government, should be established to control the handling of the surplus ■ moat in licit tin, and that this committee should be composed solely of men vho are in no way associated with (inns or companies engaged in the buy. ing or selling of meat. This, he is convinced, is very necessary; and he claims that to dispose of the meat in run iv.iv u'c.uM n->t (inly incidentally act as a splendid advertisement : or Y w Zealai cl meal, but would be n great boon to tho Briti-h consumers, who would get tin ir meat at from 7d. to I'd. pei pound, of paying aliout _<. a pound for it. This in itself would go far to allay irritation and put :.n end to labour iinrc-t at Home; and i; all other "profiteering" in regard t.i food-tulis and other necessaries of life were (finally drastically dealt with, indu-tri.il harmony would ensue and the weight of Britain's "punch'' in the present fight for life and lilicrt.v would b enormouslv increased.