THE MEAT TRUST.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 126, 28 May 1919, Page 6

THE MEAT TRUST.

(To the Editor.? Sir, —As the farmers' conference is being held this week and no doubt many important questions will come up for discussion, there is nothing more urgent , than that the farmers and producers of j this Dominion should at once combine [and organise as one body to fight the fearful menace, viz., "The Meat Trust." I am receipt of authentic informa- | tion from England that the civilian population has suffered great'.y owing to the methods of the American Meat Trust. They have succeeded in getting hold of l quantities of our meat w.hich has been I thoroughly inspected before leaving our pvorks in New Zealand, and using it to sell tlieir own, which in many cases was not fit for human consumption. In spite of our Government licensing all meat buyers operating in New Zealand, we find efforts being made to buy up many of our meat works. If we do not take immediate action as farmers, !it will be only a short time before we will be compelled to take a lower price for our products. Think what this means to the prosperity of this young country. As our prices go down, so will the value of land be reduced, and consequently your children will be i robbed of tlieir birthright. England is suffering and will suffer more over this huge monopoly. I notice Nelson Bros.—a big freezing works concern—point out to their shareholders that a foreigner can deal in our markets without taxation, whereas the British registered company was taxed both by the Imperial and by the colonial Governments. The American Meat Trust pays American taxes on the business the companies elo in the United States, but if they turn their business outside the States into foreign companies and do not take the profits to the United States . they are free from taxation by their own iGovernment, although the business is! controlled from the United States. 1 make this suggestion to the farmers and their conference. Treat this as your 'most important remit; organise at once; circularise every farmer and producer throughout New Zealand, with the object cf getting together a fi_.hting fundselect three or four of the strongest men in New Zealand, men above reproach, and with all the neeesasry ability and backbone—they must be free from any political influence, though acting with the sanction of the New Zealand Govern-nient-for and on behalf of producers of this Dominion. They would require to proceed to England at an early date, and with all the necessary ability and backfer with the Home Government, and by so doing put the necessary machinery _"„ motion. I would be pleased to eive i contribution of twenty guineas to the fund.—l am, etc., PRODUCER