AMERICA TAKES A HAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6, 7 January 1908, Page 4

AMERICA TAKES A HAND.

The Tecent acquisition by Messrs. Swift, one of the most powerful of the American meat companies, of the La Plata Works, Argentina, has seriously perturbed the various interests concerned in the import and distribution of I frozen meat in the Old Country. Before ! Swifts bought the works in- question, the American Meat Trust practically did not touch the frozen trade at all, contenting themselves with handling live arid dead beef from their own country. But as their distribution depots increased in Great Britain, it became apparent that to do an all-round business it was necessary for them to be able to sell mutton as well as beef. Members of tihe Swift family have been in Australasia engaging in buying and exporting frozen mutton to Great Britain. So this powerful company, which for purposes of discussion may be considered as representing the American Trust, already launched upon the frozen meat business, with their own meat works in South America anci a buying connection in Australasia, is very disturbing to frozen meat interests "in csse" and ''in posse." Distributors throughout the country are finding the Yankee opposition inconvenient. The pick of "British retailers are customers for American "chilled" or "home-killed" beef, and if the vendors of these articles are also sellers of Australasian and South American frozen mutton, lamb, and beet, ■it stands to reason tUa-t severe competition will be set up, in which the Aineri- j cans have capital, influence, and strategy ' in their favour. This struggle has already declared it- j self, and as the Yankea companies have ; a free hand; in selling mutton, whereas they are bound by a combine market price as to their own beef, it apearai likely that frozen meat -trill often be Dut I

in cheaply to "meet" customers—which will be awkward for the parties hairtline nothing but frozen meat. But, accord? ing to the "British Australasian," "the chief trouble likely to be caused 'by the American companies taking up the frozen mutton business is the probability of A serious interference with the forward' buying trade, which, as to Australasia and with one Argentine company,., least, has been such a leading feature of the trade for years past. Large trading concerns, such as er"s, James Nelson, etc., etc., KTe bound" to provide for their requirements a long time ahead, and any developments' in tlie importing system which threaten theft buying well forward is a serious tiiw In this probability, we fancy, lie 3 the most grave danger from the America* invasion. The Meat Trust like to be monopolists, and dominate, and' it would suffc them well to control frozen mea'f supplies, so that we should aIF have f| go to them, touch our hats, and .humbly ask permission to buy their meat And when they control the meat, they witf control meat prices as well." ■' ■• '