The Daily News. THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1917. THE MEAT TRUST.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1917. THE MEAT TRUST.

The operations of the American Meat Trust are the source of frequent denunciations, and much time lias been spent in discussing the evil effect of this great finKncial octopus. So far there lias been nothing ■but talk, no organised effort being made to apply a remedy. Almost the first matter tliat Sir Joseph Ward has touched upon since the House met was this Trust menace. Ho has been spending several months in Britain and

has had ample opportunity for studying the question at the point of 'attribution. The important point, however, is whether he and his colleague took any actual steps to discuss the matter with the British authorities with a view to measures being taken to protect the Dominion's interests from the wolf-like tactics of the Trust. Apparently he did not take advantage of the opportunity to place the matter 011 a satisfactory footing, although he admits that the menace can only be met (by concerted action of the Home and Dominion Governments. We say "apparently" because there was a noticeable absence from Sir Joseph's remarks of any reference to steps having been taken by him wlien at Home in the direction he advocates, though he states that those who are opposed to the Trust realise that it is only a matter of time when they must knuckle down to it or go out \ of business. Such an assertion certainlv implies that the matter presses, and as it is of vital importance to the producers in New Zealand it is not unreasonable to expect tlTat our Ministers might have found time between their numerous social engagements to have at least outlined t,omc practical scheme with the (British authorities and those ■ interested in the meat trade that would ' have formed the Ibasis of definite combined action. Sir Joseph suggests a remedy, but it would seem it is merely his own view, yet curiously enough it is that the British Government should join with the Dominion Government in the purhease of meat, the New Zealand Government 'buying here and the British Government buying in the United Kingdom and arranging for distribution. It is at best a crude proposal, but those interested will certainly desire to know whether even this skeleton idea was brought under the notice of the British Government. According to the figures given by Sir Joseph to the House 011 Tuosdav night the United Kingdom in 1910 imported four 'hundred and sixty thousand tons of meat, of which two hundred and sixty thousand .passed through the hands of the' American 'Meat Trust, representing a value of two hundred and fifty millions sterling. The facts stated by the Minister are well known. The Trust can and does pay higher prices than any New Zealand merchant or agent can pay. Not only is there a farmers' meat freezing company in the Dominion that is seliing meat to the Trust, but the farmers themselves are disloyal to their own works 'by selling to agents of the Trust. They fail to recognise that in so doing they are cutting the ground from under their

own feet, for the object of the Trust in paying abnormal prices is to rapture the trade and have the producers at tk>ir mercy. Our meat export trade last year amounted In value to XI,.500,000, whilo that of the Meat Trust went into enormous ligures. When once tin* Trust obtains a complete monopoly oi the trade then it ivill force down ''"lying prices and inllate selling prices bv holding stocks in store. Money has only one object so far as the Trust is concerned, and that is to kill opposition. Whereas the Trust looks to the future the producers are obsessed by present gains, thereby sliding into the tentacles of the octopus. Sir Joseph contends that the Trust can only foe fought successfully by State action on a comprehensive scale. If by that he means an absolute control by the State of meat for expoit then, provided there are "proper safeguards in the Motherland, the Trust may bo defeated. Will the producers agree to such a drastic proposal which merely allows them to produce and hand over the meat to the Government? The question of deferred pay is sure to arise and then would come trouble. A problem of this importance cannot Ibe solved by the mere offer of a crude suggestion. Largely the matter rests with the producers and it is for them to frame practical proposals that would (leal with the esport anti distribution of the meat. Government help will be needed both here and in Britain and it is unreasonable to expect that help will 'be forthcoming until a satisfactory scheme is evolved for tfighting the Trust with the only weapons that will ensure success.