MEAT TRUSTS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20502, 19 May 1938, Page 10

MEAT TRUSTS

CONTROL OF INDUSTRY FARMERS EXPREBS CONCERN SUPPORT FOR CO-OPERATION (Special Reporter) AUCKLAND, Thursday Alarm at the increasing power of meat trusts in the control of the world’s meat trade was expressed by delegates at the Auckland Provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. Greater co-operation among the farmers themselves and greater loyalty to farmers’ co-operative concerns, it was stated, were the best means to combat the present growing monopoly. It was contended by Mr C. A? Moore, who introduced a remit urging the union to consider the position of the meat export industry, that there was no greater restriction of supplies than the present handling of supplies by the monopoly representative of a few proprietory Arms. Farmers had the means of remedying matters in their own hands, said Mr J. H. Furniss. Farmers, first of all, controlled the supply and it was only due to their indifference that they did not control the freezing of their products* Power of Trusts The meat trusts of America and Britain controlled the meat trade of the world, said Captain H. M. Rushworth, M.P., who referred to the wide ramifications of the trusts which had formed a powerful ring throughout most countries. The New Zealand Meat Board had been formed primarily to prevent this ring from being completed. “The whole matter rests with the loyalty of the individual farmer to his own co-operative concern,” commented a delegate. Farmers could not be blamed, said Mr A. E. Martin, for supporting proprietory concerns if these particular Arms paid them more than the cooperative concerns. Personally, he would always sell to the Arm which would pay him more, whether it was proprietory or otherwise.

“It is deplorable that Mr Martin, a member of our executive, should express such views,” said a delegate, who pointed out that since its operation, the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association, a typical co-operative concern, had removed many anomalies. The association had operated as a “price-Axer” to the proprietory concerns ami it had to be remembered that any concessions made by the proprietory concerns came from reserves that had been built up at the expense of the farmers.

It was questionable to what extent the co-operation of the individual farmer could be trusted, stated Mr H. D. Cavers (Te Awamutu). The time had come when farmers would have to consider in an Impartial manner the question of State control, for it seemed that the only solution was the introduction of some means of Government control. Other delegates considered that there was no need for Government action, as the solution rested with tlie farmers themselves, who could weaken the strength of the monopolies by more whole-hearted support of cooperative concerns. Finally Mr C. A. Moore’s remit that ttie union should consider the position of the meat export industry with a view to affording a better stability of prices on a co-operative basis was carried unanimously and a committee was appointed further to investigate the position.