The Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 1913. AMERICAN MEAT TRUST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 11 August 1913, Page 4

The Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 1913. AMERICAN MEAT TRUST.

A great many of the shrewd ianners in New Zealand are apprehensive of the American Meat Trust. They see this 'huge commercial octopus extending its tentacles in the direction of tho Argentine. They observe the movement towards establishing extensive works in Queensland. They hear of nmours cancel ning the manipulation of the shipping. And they naturally wonder what is going to come of it all. Is it possible that the vast combination of wealth can secure the control of the whole of the meat trade of Australasia? And, if it wore possible, what would be the ultimate effect upon the producer? There is hardly room for question that if «rur meat trade were to fall into tho hafldr-of' a foreign .Trust, the effect-upon the ,pwducev would■; b© disastrous: For a time, no doubt,*. prices would bo very'lugh,. but eVeii- ; , tually the combine would use- '-its power to idle[life's,, blood oi,it ; of the settler. But, we. think .the; position is such that there can be very little room for apprehension. In.'the. first place, the Government has tfie power to suppress any coin-

bination that may bo used for the restraint of trade. If the Act already on the Statute Book does not furnish sufficient protection, it would be a simple matter to introduce further legislation dealing with the .matter. The question of shipping is, of course, surrounded, with- greater difficulty. If the Trust were to buy out the shipping companies trading with New Zealand, it could bring about a temporary paralysis of trade. But even here its operations would ba short-lived, for the people of New Zealand c,quld easily acquire a fresh service.". In view of such a contingency, it is highly improbable that the Meas. Trust would enter upon so doubtful' a venture. All the same, the fact" remains that the Trust has gained a footing in Australia, and there is reason to think that it will use surreplitious means to capture the trade of New Zealand. It behoves .this Government, therefore, to | be wide awake, and to watch the movements of this great combine. It is true," as was stated by Mr Hugh. Morrison at tJhe A. and P. Association meeting in Masterton on Saturday, thai the meat combination controls the railway system in the westr era States'of America. This fact in .itself will- make •it tablish an independent and profitable trade jbetween New- Zealand and the United States. There are other markets, however, which are opening out for our produce, not the least important of which is Canada. time is coming when close communication will be established' between >&.& two Dominions, and when there will .be a:lconsiderable interchange in the produce of each country. In' the; . meantime, it is the'duty 6f those 1 yho« control our great-industries, not*only |o secure the-alselyes against explbitation; by- the Heri^ of every market that may 'be available. . The ' 'westernising'! of Japan and China, the enormous increase, in the population of America and the Continental countries, the depleted! supplies of exporting territories all of'these things point to am'incrOasefl demand for the. exportable produce of New' Zealand, ana a corresponding maintenance of good prices; Every tiling, indeed, points to the continuance of "fat" years.