IS A TRUST OPERATING

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 8

IS A TRUST OPERATING

NEW ZEAXAHP STOCK MARKET UNEASY BUYEKS. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") PALiIERSTON NORTH, this day. Are the liigh prices of live stock due to the operations in New Zealand of a meat trust? The question was Taised and l answered on the Pahiatua Show ground 'by a 'buyer for a leading freezing works with, whom I conversed. He pointed out that New Zealand farmers were getting bigger prices for stock than last yeaT, though London prices are lower. A large Wellington company, he said, had a thousand lambs on the market a week ago, and had a thousand for the corresponding week last yeaT. They •were the only lambs on the market, yet ■ they feehed only 6r]d as against 7Jd j last year. Tiat does not clear them. Them he spoke with significant suggesI tiveness of the existence on the New Zealand market of some vaguely visible ' power buying stock. "We buyers don't knew who they are," he said, "but we are .wondering perpetually whether they are working for a meat trust. We feel that there is a power fighting against us, but we do not know its strength. It operates through agents, and is buying at high "rates. We know that Argentine works have been forced to close down, and we are anxious to know whether there is really operating in New Zealand a great power seeking to close us down also. TOO MANY DIVERSE INTERESTS FOR A FOREIGN TRUST. •The suggestion that a meat trust is operating in Sew ZeaJand has been mooted at recurring intervals during the past year or two, but the idea of an outside eomjbine operating detrimentally to the interests o.f the New Zealand farmers and buyers is scouted by the majority of those connected with the stock trade. Jt is argued that althotigh American. English, and Australian firms all come here to buy, the fact that their general interrs'ts are antagonistic precludes any likelihood of trur,r operations for the ultimate purpose of flattening prices.. It is also pointed out that the Socialistic and anti-trust spirit of our legislation -is 6uch, that upon the finst inxMcations of material injury to local freezing concerns through any sinister attempt from outside operators, the machinery could be put into motion that could effectually check a trust movement. ■■■———————i