FROZEN MEAT

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 May 1917, Page 4

FROZEN MEAT

N.Z. AND THE MEAT TRUST.

LONDON, March 22

Mr. AYV F. Massey, Prime Minister of Kew Zealand, who addressed the Royal Colonial Institute last week on “The Primary Products of New Zealand,” under the chairmanship of Sir Charles Lucas, dealt principally with meat, wool,, dairy produce, fruit, anu minerals, all of which were exported by New Zealand in large quantities. Since leaving New Zealand he had noticed that some of the newspapers stated that the American Meat Trust had commenced business in New Zealand. He was somewhat suspicious of these people, ana their doings would be very closely watched. He was not going to pass judgment without hearing the evidence and looking closely into the position. This would be done, and if any steps were necessary to protect' the people at the New Zealand and those steps would be taken.

He was more anxious, however, about this end, because if once the trusts get control of the London meat market they would squeeze not only the consumers in this hemisphere, but the producers in the other. He had no -hesitation in saying that it would be nothing less than a calamity if anything of the sort took place. The cornering of foodstuffs should net be allowed in this or any other country —either in peace or war. They in New Zealand did not claim that during the war they had done better than any other Dominion. But they did claim that in proportion to their pepu lation they had done all that it was possible to do. Approximately 80,000 New Zealanders had enlisted, and most of them had arrived on this side of the world. New Zealand realised that what the Empire required during the war were soldiers and supplies, both of foodstuffs and materials for clothing, and the Dominion would endeavour to do its duty in both respects.

Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Thomas McKenzie, and Mr. J. C. Grlgg also spoke.