THE MEAT TRUSTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1919, Page 8

THE MEAT TRUSTS.

NEW ZEALAND OPERATIONS ' SUGGESTED. . • • PREMIER'S DENIAL. (By Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. Reference was made in the House of Ropresentatjvea this afternoon to a statement made by the Liberal Labor candidate for the Raglan seat and published in Ngaruawahia. Mr. Pearee (Patea), who brought the matter up, said that the candidate, Mr. Campbell Johnstone, . was reported to have made the following statement: "The trusts have been opera/ting in New Zealand for some time, and have received assistance and accommodation from the Bank. That the Government was interested to the extent of £2,000,000, yet the Government refused'to believe it and even tried to conceal the fact, and all the time one firm, that of Armour, was openly trading under its own name. They had sold manures at exorbitant prices, and were on the road to securing the control of this country as they had done in Argentine, and the worst feature of the position was that owing to the weakkneed policy of the Government no steps had been taken to stop it. The latter had, in fact, assisted the Trusts in their nefarious schemes." Mr. Pearee asked whether Parliament had not last session passed an Act giving power to the Government to require a license from every firm exporting meat and to refuse a license to any Arm for a good reason? Was it not a fact that a license had been refused to Armour and Co? The statement made that the Government had assisted the Trusts in their nefarious schemes was "a deliberate falsehood," Mr. Massey said. Parliament had last session passed legislation •moved by the Government, the purpose of which was to make it difficult or even impossible for the Trust to carry on business in New Zealand. Every exporter of frozen meat had to obtain a license. The statement that the Bank of New Zealand had advanced two millions to the Trust bore its own condemnation. The statements of the candidate were a string of falsehoods. He could characterise them in no other way. Mr. Brown: They have been trkding hero for years under other names. Mr. Massey: But we have tried to nurke -it impossible for them to trade. We have refused them a licent« Mr. Brown:, I told you three years ago that they were trading here and you denied it. Mr. Massey: I did nothing of the sort, because I knew all about what was going on. I tell tho House now that there will be revelations about the Meat Trust within the course of the next few weeksSir Joseph Ward expressed disapproval of the introduction inte the House of the statements made by candidates. He was afraid that ifvthis line of action was to be followed he would have to introduce •some such matter from his side of the House. He admitted that, the statements made were not in accordance with tact. Mr., Pearee: The portion I took ex. ception to was the statement that the Government assisted the Trusts-in their schemes. I think when a direct accusation is made against the Goveflnment of the country that the proper thinsr to do is to bring it up in the House. That is my opinion, whatever.the opinion of the Leader of the Opposition may be.