The Meat Trust.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 May 1918, Page 5

The Meat Trust.

RETALIATIVE PROPOSALS. The operations of the Meat Trust as i*. affects New Zealand, and recommendations to combat the same, were dealt with, both in remits and by Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) at the Farmers' Union Conference on Tuesday. In moving the adoption of the remits, ten in number, Mr. Lysnar said that the Trust had got a strangle-hold of the United States meat trade in 1900 and in 1007 they had practically secured dominating control of the Argentine trade. Now they were turning their attention to New Zealand it was up to them to guard them off. The main object of the Conference nov was to have the recommendations of tha P.viliamentary committee on matter given effect to, and he was able to state that the leaders of the House had promised to see that the necessary legislation would be prbvid'jJ. but they would have to watch and see that it was sufficiently complete. He went on to deal with facts showing that the distribution of meat was unsatisfactory by the authorities placing it in the hands of persons interested in trie trade. He also strongly denounced the action of some of the meat agents who succeeded in getting Lord Rhondda to continue the nomination system which the Farmers' Union had disapproved of, and he (Lord Rhondda) had decided to do away with. This nomination system, he said, enabled the Meat Trust .representatives, who were interested in Argentine meat as well, to get a large portion of their (New.,Zealand) and they then dictated to .the Home: "We .will not give you •.m,eat unless you take so many carcases of Argentine meat." Reverting to the question |of the control of shippin, Mr.-Lysnar, saidthe shortage of shipping, which had'been bad since the start of "trie war, Was not due to the but -to loose control of their shipping, which enabled a large portion of it to be diverted for other than war purposes. He urged them to pass the resolutions and be vigilant when"they"went home. In supporting the'- motion by Mr. Lysnar, Mr. McGregor; of Hamilton, said that New Zealand meat was being retailed out to consumers at much greater prices than the producers were getting, and the consumers were led to believe that it was the producers who were bleeding them. He urged them to stand shoulder to shoulder in the matter.

The remits were passed unanimouslj'. They urge that legislation be made to protect the dangers of the meat and shipping trusts; that inquiry should he made, as recommended by the Parliamentary Committee; also disapproving of the meat agents' action in getting Lord Rhondda to reverse his decision to discontinue nominations, and protesting against the meat representatives controlling the distribution of meat; also against the manner in which shipping is controlled, and suggesting payment on the hooks for meat.