AMERICAN MEAT TRUST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 8 June 1909, Page 2

AMERICAN MEAT TRUST.

ITS OPERATION'S IN ARGENTINA. . Sydney, June 7. An authority oil the meat trade -siiys n well-known New York meat trust Ims been trying for some time to buy up Argentina meat concerns, but nothing is known of tiny attempt 011 the part ot the combine to extend its oppratio-w to Australia. PROBABLE EFFECT ON NEW ZEALAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christeiiureh, last.Night. Enquiries made among representatives of the Canterbury freezing companies | and meat exporting lirms to-day failed to elicit tlwt anything had so far transpired to support the statement by the New Zealand correspondent of the Dailv Mail that the beef trust which has acquired large interests in the Argentine, was making enquiries in Australia and New Zealand with a view to the supplies of those countries being controlled by the trust. It was stated by a gentleman seen that it h-.ul beei\ a matter of common knowledge for some time that the beef trust had been spreading its tentacles ill the Argentine, and that it had obtained control of two large native institutions. There still remained, iliowever, five other concerns, three being native-owned ami the other two held by British shareholders. These two latter were .lames Nelson and Sons and the Argentine Fresh Meat Co. liotli of tbcisc hail shops ill various parts of the United Kingdom and dealt directly 'with the consumers. It was regarded as extremely doubtful tlliat the Americans should be able to buy out the com- • panies named, and it wa« thought more , orohaible that recourse would require to i be had to the expedient of crushing • them by direct competition. Britis'h i capital is stated to be largely represent- • ed in the three remaining Argentine- • owned companies, and the beef trust may not even be aide to. acquire these without a struggle, 'The aim of tilie trust, it is surmised, is not so much to capture the mutton trade as the beef trade. If it can secure the remaining Argentine works, the trust will have practically the heef industry of the world under its • command. The only s'erious competition that is likely to he offered is by Queensland, but as the beef trade there is only in its initial stages, I the trust could well afford to ignore ] rivalry from that quarter for some time to conic. It is feared by some, 011 the other bund, that American enterprise in the may avail to seriously prejudice the standing of New Zealand mutton and lamb in the London market. The Argentine article, it is pointed out, has wonderfully improved of late years, until now mutton from that country is' ahnust indistinguishable in appearance from New Zealand, As a matter of fact, the margin of difference in price is gradually receding, and it will not be long before the best Argenne intillon fetxdies as much afi North

resulted in North Islam! growers export-l ing lamb in preference to sheep, while | since the influence of Swifts began to assert itself (as the result of their acquiring the La Plata Oompanv), Argentine cutting is largely upon the lamb trade as well. It is regarded as certain that if the trust acquired control of South, American freezing concerns, Kew Zealand companies will be faced with a bigger problem tliun ever before. In order-to meet the solid front that would I be presented by the .trust, it is | gested by some that all the Xew Zealand companies should be represented at Home by a single office, and that some sort of working arrangement be entered hi to in regard to placing supplies on the market jso as to avoid disastrous "unloading*" at unfavorable times. In any case, it, is not regarded as at all possible that the trust could • OU i Zealand companies l . In 111 the first place the/temper of the people would not permit any such proceeding, qnd would lind expression in legislative interference with the proposal. I'lii tlior than that, even nupposiug Ameobtained possession of N'ew Zealand freezing interests, their first step would be to reduce the price of supplies' jmi I'll used .from fanners. Probably the in,mediate ellVct of this would be that armers would retaliate by starting fi oe/ing works „f their own, and if the U ust desired to retain its monopoly inlv°",d have to go on buying up facftoij after factory indefinitely. The opinions ol those interviewed by a new* paper representative (point to the necessity of more effectively meeting AmeriC.lll competition on the. London market Iran is now possible, by the action of enth 5 0m P 1 « I,, o« '"'ting indepe^ltntlj of each other. The created ,1,.. nmnd at •Home is for the cheaper classes of frozen meat. The Argentine having •p 'Sll ? lti^ ed thnt »«"!«. now kef wLi "J tl,e mutton 'Market. Whether it will ,be successful in maturing the laimb trade as well re- ' forUw ili Y SfC "- ( N ? cloubt stro "« «f----foits will be exerted 111 tluit direction As against the possibility of the he..f ■,al,l s r |Uir V'=. N - Zealand coinlli'il ri' ■ - c configuration 0 f the Dominion is quoted. The beef trust owes its success to the fact of bejn» n J,"l c to, focus supplies of l-aiw material lor treatment upon given cenfw 1 r „. ,a £iwt expense. *,,J *f 1 " s "Vative for the' Successful pursuit of the induitiv « lilted'ft* '•-•"Ktli.v clmin of j/ 0 ° I ■Wed freezing works, stretching praefiUie'Uler" ° ,l<! C,l< ' ° f JTew to