The Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1912. THE BEEF TRUST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10704, 27 August 1912, Page 4

The Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1912. THE BEEF TRUST.

In. a recent issue of the Age, attention was drawn to the fact that the American Beef Trust had gained a footing iii Australia, and that it was only a question cf time when an attempt would bo made to capture the New Zealand trade. It is satisfactory to note that the seriousness of the position has impressed itself upon Parliamentarians, as well as those engaged in the frozen meat industry. According to the Christchurch Press, a New Zealander who hay just returned from Queensland states that', a representative of the Trust will be in New Zealand in about two years' time. The Minister for Agriculture has promised to keep an eye upon the movements of the Trust, and will be able to rely upon the assistance of Mr W. C. Buchanan, the member for Wairarapa, whose interest in the frozen meat industry naturally keep? him in close touch with what goes on. Mr Buchanan warned the Minister to keep an eye upon the shipping, and Mr John McQueen, chairman of the Southland Frozen Meat •Company, also looks upon the shipping as the most likely point at which the Trust will try to gain control of. our frozen meat trade. Mr McQueen also considers tint if the Trust gain control of the beef trade they will seek to nse their power in thi,« direction to push the sale of mutton, and so ultimately command the wljole market. Mr McQueen, -however, takes the view that the Trust will find a much more difficult task to secure control in New Zealand than in Australia. The bulk of the share- •. npi+a! of our freezing works is provided byfarmers, and it is not likely they will agree to play into the hands of the Trust by selling out any of the existing works. There are also too many firms, both local and English, interest-

Ed in our frozen moat trade, against whom the Trust compete more or less in the Home market, who will be ready to oppose any move of the Trust to gain control of the New Zealand output. The Trust cannot very well establish new works in New Zealand without openly declaring their intention, for the country is mow well supplied, if not over-supplied, with works, and any move the Trust took in the direction of building would no doubt raise a demand for direct, legislation to prevent their gaining a footing in thiy way. Should the Trust turn their attention instead to the shipping, the position might be more difficult to deal with, and any move in this direction will need watching. It is rather remarkable that Australian politicians, with all their declared opposition to Trusts, have allowed the American Beef Trust to coolly commence the erection of works in Queensland, practically without a word of protest being raised. Had the Trust selected New South Wales instead of Queensland for the commencement of active operations they would probably have not had such a smooth course, judging by what has been said lately about the high prico of meat in Sydney, and the alleged existence of a local meat ring. Once having gained a footing, however, the Trust knows enough not to oruse oppositaion, and for a time we will no doubt hear what benefactors they have become to the producers of fat stock. The fact that the Australian frozen meat trade has been badly managed locally by the producers themselves, will materially help the Trust to gain their own ends. In that respect the Trust will ,not find -anything in. New Zealand to assist them.