AMERICAN MEAT OCTOPUS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 310, 25 May 1911, Page 5

AMERICAN MEAT OCTOPUS.

ITS TENACLES IN NEW ZEALAND. ALARM IN AUCKLAND. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Serious concern was expressed at the Farmers' Union Conference to-day at the statements made recently to the effect that the American Meat Trust ha# commenced operations in New Zealand. Mr. 'MacGill (Waiuku) said he could not say definitely that the American Meat Trust had entered into the frozen meat trade in New Zealand, but the danger was a very real one. He referred to the report that the Shaw- Savill Shipping Company was controlled by the Morgan Combine, and said that if this question were looked into they would find that it was closely connected with the frozen meat trade in New Zealand. The shipping company offered to assist freezing companies wnou the financial crisis occurred, and he had reason to believe that the 'Shaw, Savill Company had obtained a large control in this way. Captain Colbeck said that the American Meat Trust was a very big affair, and he did not know what steps New Zealand farmers could take to prevent it operating in New Zealand. The Government should be asked to keep a watchful eye. The president (Major Lusk) said he was sure all the delegates agreed that it was desirable, to put a check on trusts. The following remit from the Auckland branch , was ..then passed, on the motion of Mr. MacGill—"That the Union' views with concern the fact, as reported from London, of the control of the Shaw, Savill Shipping Company by the Morgan Combine, and as the shipping companies arc so bound up with the frozen meat industry of the Dominion urges the Government to keep a watchful eye over the possible means of American control of this very important industry of the Dominion." It was also decided to ask the Dominion Conference to take the matter in hand and bring it before the Government.