THE MEAT TRUST QUESTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10117, 26 October 1917, Page 5

THE MEAT TRUST QUESTION

(FBOM OUB PABLIAMINTABY RtPOBTIB.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 25. In further discussing the report of the Meat Trade Committee in the House to-day members did not say much that was new. They emphasised the importance of co-operation among the Governments of the Empire, in order to prevent the exploitation of producers and consumers by trusts and shipping combines, and urged the producers to remember that, it they put their heads in the noose by dealing with the trusts now, for the sake of immediate profit, they would suffer seriously when the cord was tightened. The Committee had tailed to discover why New Zealand meat, brought here under sixpence per pound, and released in London at about tonpence, was sold to the British consumers at )s lOd or 2s. Several members protested that insullicieiit time was being allowed for the discussion of the report, but they were not listened to sympathetically. Tho House is in a hurry now to finish the session and get home. Mr Field (Nelson) mentioned that evidence had been placed before the committee regarding a foreign company engaged in the condensed milk industry in New Zealand. The evidence had not been printed by the Committee because! it was outside the order of reference. Its effect was that the company in question, while nominally Swiss, had German connections. Mr Field wanted tho Government to give attention to this matter. The Chairman of the Committee (Mr Lee) had two minutes for his reply before the dinner adjournment, which would have left the report in the air. He contented himself with urging the Government to examine the report and the evidence during the recess, and take -whatever action was necessary. The evidence was ordered to be printed.