SHIPPING COMBINES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24, 28 July 1911, Page 2

SHIPPING COMBINES.

FARMERS FEAR MEAT TRUST. Mr. Makgill (Auckland) moved at the Farmers' Union Conference to* day !•— "Thai the union views with concern the fact, as reported from London, of the control of the Shaw-Savill Shipping Company by thS Morgan Combine, and as the shipping companies are so bound up with the frozen meat industry of the Domm* ion, and urges the Government _ to keep a Watchful eye over the possible means of American control of this very important industry of the Dominion, and f that this conference take the matter in hand and put it before the Government." / He referred to the control of the Sttaw*S&vill ( Shipping Company by the Morgan Shipping Combine, which also controlled the Aberdeen. White Star line. It was 1 a serious matter for New Zealand exporters if frozen meat that the shipping control should be in the hands of Americans. It was already suggested that the t American Meat. Trust was already m 1 the New Zealand frozen meat trade. The trust had already gained a firm footing in New Zealand, he understood. Some meafift should be devised of combatting this evil, Mr._ Nevine (Tenui) ( regarded the shlpping_ and other combines as of most eeriotts import to farmers. Some time ago sheepowners felt that they were not being treated fairly by the shipping companies, and they combined to charter ships to carry Wool, and that with success. Mr. J. C. Cooper (Tane) said there was no danger of the American Meat TrU9t in New Zealand. It was not buying, through other agents. He believed an effort was being made to get into New Zealand. He did not think the trust had bought a single carcase in New Zealand. The American beef and New Zealand mutton, he knew, were bought in London and sold togethef, going into the best trade. Replying to Mr. Evans. Mr. Cooper said it was the fact that contiftcts were made between the freezing companies and shipping companies that all meat going to London must go through that contract. Meat going to the West of England went by another shipping company, but at the same rate. New Zealand shipping rates compared favourably with South American and Australian rates. The shipping companies were bound to cut their rates down to bedrock, for fear of outside competition. The contracts were mutual agreements between the shipping companies and freezing works. Mr. J. Talbot thought the American Meat Trust was taking a lot of New Zealand meat, and was likely to captttro the London meat trade. The President (Mr. J. G, Wilson) pointed out that South Africa was meeting with difficulties with the shipping combines, and tho Cape Parliament was seeking to deal with the matter by Uie abolition of rebates given by the shipping companies to shippers conditionally on shipping going by its lines. Major Lusk could, but would rather not, name persons in New Zealand, who were representing the America-n Meat Trust in New Zealand. The matter should be nipped in the bud. Mr. Sheat had had names mentioned to him of people operating in New Zealand for the American Meat Trust. "But I'm not going to run the risk of libel, Don't you make that error." liiere was a lot of buying under cover and c.i.f., and no one knew where the meat went. Mr. Cooper repeated that he did not know of a single direct representative in New Zealand, but trade might be being done by c.i.f. contracts, Mr. Evans was absolutely sure, from advices from London and information, that a certain firm in London, buying for the United Kingdom, were acting as bull and bear. It did not live in New Zealand, but it had plenty, of money elsewhere. Mr. Vavasour said there was not the slightest doubt about it that there was a strong beat movement in the United Kingdom market early this season, which brought the market down, There was absolutely no Other reason for. the de* pressed prices. The motion was vattUd after iuiUier dific'uflsiMi. ',