Does Monopoly Threaten Dominion Meat Trade?

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 66, 20 March 1935, Page 10

Does Monopoly Threaten Dominion Meat Trade?

BRITISH WHOLESALERS’ CASE BEFORE A. & P. ASSOCIATION Tho general committee of the ManaAvatu and West Coast A. & P. Association met yesterday, Mr D. Collis presiding. Messrs. D. darker and J. B. Johnson were nominated for honorary life membership for the association.

A letter Avas received from tho British Association of Meat Wholesalers’, Ltd., which represents about 80 percent. of tho private Avholesale distribution of meat in England (London and 20 provincial towns). Tho writers sought to establish better contacts Avith producers in Ncav Zealand, and mentioned that they had recently had conversations with Sir James Parr and with Mr David Jones, chairman of tho Moat Producers’ Board, before the latter left London. ‘'Many of our members have been distributors of your meat for many years, and have built up considerable business, their supplies being generally obtained through tho agents in London, who in turn represent the many meat Avorks in your country. "You are aAvaro that a large part of the export from tlieso Avorks is on account of the individual farmer, and every effort is made by tho Meat Board to help this typo of business. Recent events havo focussed the attention of largo vested interests in tho direction of big purchases of live stock from your farmers, Avhicli have hitherto been forwarded on consignment, and the result is that agents and Avholesale distributors in this country aro finding themselves with depleted supplies. Admittedly tho live stock so purchased is industrialised and exported to this country by these big vested interests, but these firms, having their own wholesale distributing organisations, shoAV no special desire to distribute these supplies in any other way. Alive Or Dead? "If carried to excess, as has been tho case in such other countries as Argentina, this state of affairs Avill tend to eliminate tho British Avholesaler, and it Avill no longer be any uso consigning your meat to England, as there will be no ono to buy it. You Avill be forced to sell all your stock ali\-e, and your alternative market, Avliick has always been of inestimable value in giving you the opportunity to market your own meat, avnil bo lost. These A-ieAvs are simply slated in tho assuranco that you Avill realiso that this is tho way monopolies are formed, and that with a non-competitive market (as will surely result) you Avill be forced to sell at their price, and that no luaa-s of your Government or regulations of your Meat Board will bo of any use wben your free and open market disappears.’’ Tho writers concluded by inviting co-operation on the matter, suggesting tho use of the air-mail in correspondence. The meeting appointed a sub-com-mittee to further consider tho letter, with tho object of drafting a reply. It was further decided to ask Mr David Jones to gi\ r e an address on the subject at the annual meeting of the association. Association Matters. Forty-four names were added to the members’ roll, including nfiw members and former members reinstated. The following vice-presidents Avere elected:—Messrs J. F. Knight (senior), A. E. Mansford, J. A. Nash, W. J. Blundell, A. J. Russell, H. Yoss. Scrutineers were appointed for the annual meeting next month. Mr W. G. Black gave notice of motion to the next meeting that tho association should set asido 7£ per cent, annually out of capital for the purposes of meeting depreciation and maintenance charges. As he Avas occupying tho chair at a committee meeting for tho last time, Mr Collis thanked members for the co-operation accorded him during his term of offico. Not only tho committee but the general community had sup-. ported him generally, and ho hoped the fame support would bo extended his 1

successor (Mr J. Batchelar). All Jjeing -well, the next year, in which the jubilee would be celebrated, should be tho peak year in the association’s history. Ho personally had done his utmost to promote its welfare. Voicing the committee’s appreciation of Mr Collis’ services, Mr M. A. Conway praised the devoted way in which the president had carried out his duties. Not only had he laboured hard, but it was fully evident that his labours were bearing fruit. Ho had extended - .the popularity of tho association.