MENACING THE DOMINION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 201, 22 August 1912, Page 7

MENACING THE DOMINION.

OPERATIONS OF THE BEEF TRUST. PRIME. MINISTER'S" WARNING. (By Telegraph.Purltarocntarj Reporter.)

WELLINGTON. Wednesday. "The position is being carefully watched, and any development likely to prejudice the interests of .Now Zealand will tie pronvptly dealt with." Such was (lie declaration of the Prime Minister this afternoon, when asked by •the member for Waikato to protect the producers of New Zealand against the exploitation of the American Beef Trust, should it extend its operations to the Dominion. He added that it -was merely a matter of inference that the American firm at Brisbane was connected with the Meat Trust.

Quoting newspaper reports to demonstrate that the American Beef Trust had established itself ill Queensland, (Mr Young declared •that the matter via more than one of inference—-they established themselves in the Argentine, securing the trade in two years, and now they were making a raid on Australasian producers by selling beef at ridiculously low prices in I/ondon, reimbursing themselves by charging , high prices in Ihe protected market of the United States.

"Mr Anderson (Mataura.) said his information ipointed to a start Hieing made 'by the Trust in Southland. Their plan of campaign was to capture the market by paying , high prices for stock, then starving out. or making terms 'with tJio freezing companies. Once they secured a complete monopoly they squeezed the graziers by paying low prices for stock. "I trust I_ha.t the Government will take the necessary stitch in 'time in regard to the trouble that is menacing this colony in this direction, -, remarked the membrr for YTairarapa. It was well known that agents of these trusts had born all over Australia and New Zealand. There was no doubt the trusts had made a start in Queensland, and it was almost certain if successful there they would come over here. Speaking on the subject, the Prime Minister remarked that it 'was a fact that an American firm had purchased land near Brie bane. There was no doubt tiiis was a matter that required watchin". Hp -was .strongly of opinion, however, that so long as this country owned its own railways, and the meat works were, in the hands of the fanners, there was very little chance, of the trusts extending their operations to New Zealand; and so long ne hie Government was in office it would not be a good thing for the American Meat Trust to try it on. Every possible precaution would be taken.