THE MEAT TRUST.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 195, 16 August 1920, Page 4

THE MEAT TRUST.

-i strong effort is being made to induce the- Government to issue an exporting license to Armour and Co., one o_ the great American meat pa-king ilrme. It is quite natural that Armour's, themeelves should be moving in this matter, but what strikes us as rather strange is that Bomo Now Zealand far_iors are supporting their -request. For example, last week a meeting of sheep farmers held in Christchurcb. resolved, "that no obstacles be placed in tho way of any firm operating in New Zealand until there its evidence that tho methods of such firm are detrimental to the producers' interests." There Is ample evidence that the methods of the American Meat Trust, of which Armour's is, or was, a member, have been detrimental to the interests of producers in other countries, and it i.s precisely the knowledge grftlvesc methods that has caused the Government and most of the newspapers of Xew Zealand to oppose the entry of the Trust into the Xew Zealand trade. When a tiger appears -near an Indian village, do the villagers -welcome it and give it tho run of the place until it proves that its methods are detrimental? The 1 animal may bo a reformed tiger, but the villagers judge it try toho characteristics of, its species. So much the safer plan ia I to keep the Meat Trust out of New /tealand. It may be a reformed trust; we j know that its dissolution was ordered. Rut there is no proof that it has re-j formed so miioh that it can safely be admitted here. If the Government stood by and gave Armour's a free run in New Zealand, the freezing companies could not prevail against the money, skill, and organisation of the linn, unless the farmers stood Iry tbem solidly, and there is reason to fear that too many farmers would look only at the attractive terms offered them by the. newcomers, and pay nn heed to the -future. If the whole power of the Trust were brought to bear on I the Xew Zealand market the contest I would probably be -hopeless. Too late the farmers might find themselves the scrvanta. not of the present companies, many of which are co-operatiir, but of a vast'foreign concern that had the greater ; part of the meat trade in its grip. The ' argument that New Zealand needs new markets for its meat is weak. What is jto prevent the New Zealand farmer and freezing company sending meat to America? A dart has already Wen made without the help of Armour's. .anuers should support the Government 111 its policy of refusal, and not lie led away by apparent present, advantage, j