SALE OF MEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1920, Page 5

SALE OF MEAT.

ARMOURS WANT LICENSE. REQUEST NOT RECOMMENDED, By TsUjxaph.—Press Asan.—Copyright. Wellington, Last Night. In the Houso of Representatives this afternoon, #ie Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee reported on the petition of H. D. Aeland, of Christchurch, and 107 others, praying "hat a meat export license "be granted to Armour and Co., of Australasia (Ltd.). The committee said they could not recommend that a meat export license be granted to Armour and Co., as in the opinion of the committee they are a subsidiary 'company of Armour and Co. of the United States of America, where it had been shown they, together with other companies, carried out practices inimical to both the producer and the consumer. Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui), condemned the . recommendation of the rommittee. Ko declared all that had been brought against Armour and Co. was in connection witn an American trust, but in New Zealand they had traded on ordinary lines, and no exception could be taken to their proceedings. The only objection to them was that they wen; an American firm, and he askc-.l if this was fair Was it sensible, whtn wa wanted to get our meat Into Ameiica? 1.-ppos'tion to Armour and Co. arose not from the producers or the consumers in New Zealand, bat from the big freezing cempanies, which were making huge, profit, nud who wished in sqi-ue'O another comp;.itor out of t'ii market

Mr. V. H. Reed (Bay of Islands), eaid the effect of refusing Armour and Co. would have the effect of driving them underground, viz., trading through agents, and therefore should be watched. Great care should Be taken to prevent foreign capital obtaining control of our freezing companies. Mr. E. Masters (Stratford), outlined the practices of the American Trusts, and asked members if they were prepared to permit similar practices In New Zealand. If a license were granted to Armour and Co., a license could not logically be refused to Swifts and all other branches of American trusts.

The Minister of Agriculture quoted from an official American report and a decree issued by the United Stateß At-torney-General in connection with the Packers' Trust case, and said it was mainly these documents which influenced him in refusing a license to Armours. If the Government of the United States of America had taken drastic "steps against Armours, he felt the Government of New Zealand was justified in refusing a license to fTade in th'gi Dominion.

The discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.