THE MEAT TRUST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 56, 27 July 1914, Page 6

THE MEAT TRUST.

u iiEi;\L« CbUfe-UA WATCHED. in' fah-ukus' union. Per Press Association. Wellington, Friday. A little n-iiiit which evoked ji big discission al tiie Farmers' Union (Joiifuvenie to-tliiy was one dealing with the .mat Trust submitted by Air. 11. A. Aevins (Teiuu). U was as I'ol.ows: "That the Government bo asked to watch the operations of meat trusts, witli a view to preventing Ilium operating in Mew Zealand." Mr. Kevins pointed out that although the Trust might be .prepared to give good p-ices here, the evil would be that it would undersell at Dome at prices with which the Xew Zealand companies could not compete. He quoted the ease of one large company in tile Argentine, wlii.h had as the iisult of the operations of the Trust been unable to pay a d'ivideiit hist year. Mr. Ilolnian foul stated that if the Trust started in New iriouth Wales he could settle it in twenty-four ■hour?', but he would point out that it had established works in Queensland.

Mr. W. N. Maselield (IVlorus Sound) said that although the Trust might raise the price to the farmers, it would get itli own back. A little while ago lit' had conversed with one of the principal men in the meat trade in N"c">" Zealand, and he 'had made the statement that in five years the American Meat Trust, would control the output of meat from New Zealand. The Government should be asked to watch tho Trust very carefully. Mr. Jas.' Begg (Otago) thought there was no need of undue alarm.

Mr, A. Schmidt (Auckland) moved as an amendment, "That this conference urge the Government to can-fii I watch the operations of the Meat and other trusts."

Mr. John Talbot (South Canterbury) said liis opinion was that the Trust had been ■operating ' for many veal's, lmt there would be no danger as Ion" as it did not get hold of their freezing works.

Mr. F. S. I'oiie, Secretary of Agriculture, who. with Dr. Eeakes, Director of j the Live Stock Divisions, was present, I told the conference that Dr. Tteakcs had been studying the question for a very long time, and was in possession of a very large amount of information. Dr. Iteakcs said he had watched the operations of the Trust, in common . with other matters bearing on Hie interests of the frozen me.it trade, for ■many years past. lie had acquired a great deal of information, but much of it was strictly confidential, and he hoped tiie conference would pardon him for being somewiliut reticent, more particularly as lie, bad yet. to 'supply the information to the Governiiiont, It seemed to him that it would be very foolish to make a bogey of the Meat .Trust, but at the same lime it would be very foolish to ignore the prejudicial effect on Xew Zealand trade that might result from the operations of any big Trust. To be forewarned was to be forearmed, and the D ■eivtment was doing its best to ascertain everything as it happened. Mr ,T. McQueen (Southland) remarked that the Trust was undoubtedly operating, but what 'he feared most was that it might fret hold of the shipping. Mr. B. Evans (North Canterbury): That's tie point. Mi. fXiven withdrew ■ his remit in [ favor of Auckland's.

Air. F. Campbell (Wanganui) mentioned that in South America the Trust was so powerful that only .one. company at Buenos Aires bad been able to stand up against it. but the Trust wa's nowpaying prices that even that compinv could not compete against. It had a big hold 'on the BritisHi: trade, and bad its agencies throughout the world. Only last year one of its buyers w.-.is giving it out that whatever the Clear Company would give he would give a shilling'more per sheep. At the same time he (the speaker) could not see (liow they could do anything in. the way of interfering. "We cannot prove the Aleat Trust is operating in Xew Zealand, although we know it is," said Mr. Campbell. "T think the only thing we can do is to make the most of it. and the best of it." The Auckland remit was adopted, and also a motion thanking the Government foi its vigilance.