TO FIGHT THE MEAT TRUST

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 140, 10 December 1918, Page 4

TO FIGHT THE MEAT TRUST

PROMISE OF ACTION

RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION

Members of the House of Representatives condemned the American. Meat Trust's operations in New Zealand when the Slaughtering and InspectionjAmendment Bill was under consideration yesterday. . j

Mr. Nosworthy (Ashburton) said that the Meat Trust aimed at not .only getting control of meat works, but securing interests in shipping. Unless care was taken, the producers of New Zealand would become the slavesoorf r the trusts. There was no influence working more to the detriment of the country than, the Meat Trust.

Mr. 'Hunter (Waipawa) said that from the evidence given to the Agricultural and Stock Committee of the House last year, it was clear that if the Meat Trustwas able to get a hold it would be one of the greatest evils to the Dominion. He hoped that the .recommendations of the Committee would be put into operation by the Government. Mr. Payne (Grey Lynn) said New Zealand might find it necessary to control the meat and shipping 'industries, nationally. Drastic and rankl action was necessary. The Meat Trust did hot restrict itself to meat;, it was out to control the food supply, of the world.

Mr. M'Combs (Lyttelton) gave a statement from an American publication that the war profits alone of . the Trust amounted to £24,000.-000. •

Mr. W. H. Field '(Otaki), referring to one line of the Meat Trust's operations, said it made a profit at the rate of £19 to £20 per carcase of beef. The New Zealand Government should have control of the whole of the operations in meat, including shipping and marketing overseas.

The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald said the Bill was only the beginning of a policy against Trusts. Up to the present the Government had not yet had a real opportunity to grapple with the Meat Trust. There must be co-operation of producing countries, such as New Zealand, Australia, and the Argentine, with Great Britain and America. Before this matter was finally settled it would be necessary to have retail shops, controlled by the State, in Great Britain and other countries. But before the larger work was dpne in conjunction with other countries, it would be necessary for New Zealand to put its own house in order— and the new Bill was a means to that end.

As for snipping, there was much building in progress. There would be also much shipping available for trade after the completion of demobilisation./ The prospect was that there would be more than enough, shipping for , the world's needs, and therefore it should be possible for New Zealand to make satisfactory terms with the owners.

In Committee, the clause dealing* with penalties was amended, on the motion of Mr. Nosworthy, to make v the penalties £2000 for an offence against the Act, and £400 for each day on which the offence is continued, instead of .£SOO and £100 as proposed in the original measure. - .. • ■ ...■.:..;■'■■■ i. ••'' ■

The Minister assured members who raised the point that he would have the report of the United States Commission on the Meat Trust circulated amorg farmers'institutions. , i , ;