MEAT TRUST OPERATIONS.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 10 September 1917, Page 8

MEAT TRUST OPERATIONS.

HOW TO COMBAT IT, Tlie-.vi'inl importance of dealing adequately and quickly with the danger that threatens the producers of New Zealand in the presence of the Meat Trust was urged by Mr Vernon, M.P., at a 'representative meeting of the farming and stock-raising community of the four northern counties at Kaikolie last week.

After outlining the operations of the Trust in, America and England from 1!)00 until the .present time, Mr Reeil said.that during ihe war the Trust had' .made enormous profits. One company, had put aside ten millions for a fighting fund. The preseui amassed eapiial of these American companies was enormous, and big enough to fight nations. They hud taken possession-of the labour .of the producers in the United States and Great Britain, ami now were they going to be allowed to do the.same in New Zealand! They were actually in New Zealand; 'heir brass plate was up. And these people were people with a total capita! of .Kl.lWO'.oOli, , ,ir,.l .total bonds of ; ( : I-1,000,000 Tie was satisfied that as things stood it would not'be a very difficult proposition for the meat trade to be caught. To prevent this legislation should be put on the Shifu;c Book. This had been done in America, but had failed in its purpose. There was one absolutely effective remedy, and for that they had to get the co-operation of Britain. He felt that coopcraiion should be arranged before the war was over, for it would be very much more difficult to get that co-opefntion after the war. Tie was of opinion that if the Dominion Government did its share at this end, and the Imperial authorities purchased the product and controlled the retailers in Britain, it' would give a solution of' the trouble, In order to meet ihe menace they must make it unlawful to have any outside capital put in any freezing company in New Zealand. Anqther position where they could catch, the Meat Trust, and where theyjwould have to act, and that,was by State-owned ships carrying their produce. This would be another step in the direction of fighting the Meat Trust. He was led to believe the-Meat Trust was already operating in the butter business in New Zealand, and he was sure they would extend their operations to all the food products of the country, Ik had gone into this aspect of the question with the sole object to lay stress upon the importance of the matter to the whole of New Zealand.

Mr Reed was accorded the thanks of those present for his address and v ' the. stand he was taking in regard to the Meat Trust menace,