Grey River Argus and Blackball News THURSDAY, MAY 28, '1914.

Grey River Argus, 28 May 1914, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

THURSDAY, MAY 28, '1914.

Delivered every iiiornijug -a ' («eym«)utb. Kumara, Hoirtrta, |> o bß*>u f V^Jieenci, lWor '§£#£? n l6e \ **£<"*• *taui«ua Wiiuua. Beeftou, Cronoduu, Bunauga, Dunullie, Couaeu, Kotuku, atoana, &uta, f ie Kmta, fiotomanu' roerao, I bouuie, Jaokpous anu otiiai

In the course of an interview in Christchurcn the Hon. W. F. Massey said ;hat the Government were closely watching- the operations of the meat Trust, and ; if necessary, prompt action would be taken to stop its progress. That is a very necessary 1 step, for at present the discussion about the matter- is of a haphazard kind. Some say that a Trust is operating; others contend that what is happening is merely the arrival- of a. company or- companies who are intent on obtaining supplies for their overseas customers. It appears almost certain that a Trust exists, and that it is decidedely influencing prices. The consumer is paying higher prices on account of the accentuated, scarcity, but the money is "going to the pro ducers. Stock raisers maintain that it is only within tflie past few years that their beef and mutton has arvthing like its H value. The producer therelore, has nothing -to complain of under the new order of things. The arrival of foreign buyers puts money m his pockety, and the higher prices stimulates development generally High prices are good for the country, necessary in fact, especially ia view of the great volume of our imports- We are a free-spending people, and the means for, that way of

living come .out of the splendid prices that our products now bring in the world's markets. We cannot have il both ways ; we cannot have low prices in the Dominion and high prices in London for the ,same goods at the same-, time, unless we place some restriction on our exports. That would be a risky operation. It is possible to imagine that it could be done so 1 delicately as to prevent prices rising here beyond a certain possible level; But between theory, and practice there is a gulf, and it is a question whether our political system is capable of doing that kind lof work with the necessary skill. However, the Government can obtain plenty of information on the subject of export duties from the "countries that have tried them. So far as the producers are concerned, there seems no reason "{for '-trepidation. They are intelligent ./men, who can combine if necessary to light the Trust. So longas high prices are maintained, the producers wilL have no grievance against 'th£ foreign buyers, but will thank thenyfor coming into the market. If-, the. Tiust should try to "squeeze"" -the producers, the latter are powerful enough in financial resources .and ,in capacity for organisation to^protect their interests. It is contended that. the Trust, by its con trol ot the -.overseas markets, could prevent Australasian producers geiting a fair price for their beef .and mutton. But if (that condition o}monopoly really existed in Europe and America the Trust would not need to come here at all. It :Seem> to us, therefore, that though the foreign buyers, in the country may be a Trust in America, it does not follow "hat • they are a Trust in New Zealand and Australia. A Trust is an organisation that follows Trust methods. What the new comers want 3s not the. New' Zealand .market but the "New, Zealand imeat. Thus loperations necessarily raise the price of meat, but that results automatically from the increased demand, and would be just as pronounced if the buyers were Dutch or Italian, or if they were, a hundred separate' entities instead of one or two. The "Trust" Tear, however, is such a useful political bogey, especially near election time, that it ..will doubtless be worked for all it "is worth. It lends itself satisfactorily to the impassioned phrases of the stump orator, it also works in J well -^with the flamboyancies of sensational publicists. Trust is con fidence, but a "Trust" may amount to little else than a large-sized political confidence trick.