AMERICAN BEEF TRUST

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 82, 23 August 1912, Page 6

AMERICAN BEEF TRUST

EXPLOITING COLONIAL MARKETS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) Wellington, Last Night. The member for VYaikato (Mr. Young| asked the Prime Minister yesterday whether he had had his attention drawn to the fact that the American Beef Trust had established itself in Queensland, and if he would take steps to protect the graziers of this country against exploitation by ths Trust should it extend its operations to New Zealand; and, further, whether he would co-operate with the Australian State and Federal Governments to protect the interests of those dependent for their living on the export of meat to the English, Canadian and other markets?

The New Zealand Government, said Mr. Massey in reply, is aware that an American firm has purchased land near Brisbane for the purpose of establish in" meat works there, hut the connection between this and the operations of the American Meat Trust is at present merely a matter of inference. The position is carefully watched, and anv development likely to prejudice the interests of New Zealand will be promptly dealt with.

Speaking to the subject during the afternoon, Mr. Anderson (Mataura) said that he had information from men in Southland, interested in the beef trade, that the Trust had ?]readv made steps to capture the market and to compel the firms concerned to sell out. After destroying competition the Trust would fix its own price for stock. This, he added, was a serious thing for the country. The Government ought to be very careful in its handling of the matter,and if possible it should keep the Trust out. Mr. Buchanan suggested that the Government should make enquiries on the subject in America, where the settlers had become familiar with the methods of the Trust. In New Zealand we were not familiar with its methods, ami the best thing we could do was to get the experience of other countries so as to enable our settlers to meet the difficulty. It was, he added, well known that the agent of the Trust was all over Australia and also in New Zealand for several years, making enquiries in regard to the state of our laws, and into other matters that would be of use to them in starting business here. He believed there could be no doubt that the Trust had made a commencement in Queensland, and it was almost certain that if the Trust succeeded in starting business over in Queensland it would commence operations in New Zealand. He thought the suggestion that negotiations should be opened up with the Commonwealth and the various States of Australia was a good one. and he trusted that as soon as the session was over the Prime Minister would give full consideration to the question,'

The Prime Minister said it was a fact that an American firm had purchased land at Brisbane for the purpose of establishing meat works there, No doubt this was a matter that needed to be watched. He was, however, strongly of opinion that so long as New Zealand owned its own railways and its meat works were in the hands.of the fanners there was very little, danger of the American Meat Trust extending its bper-' ations to New Zealand. If such an attempt were made,'it would not be good for the Trust. So long as the present Government was in office.every possible precaution would be taken.