AMERICAN MEAT TRUST.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13983, 20 November 1917, Page 3

AMERICAN MEAT TRUST.

'■' ' i RK INT ALLEGATIONS QUI S * . ,T10NEI). WANGANUI, November IK. The accuracy rif the message from llavvke's Bay' regarding ilte alleged' operations of the American Trust and the huge prices offering for calves, is very much doubted in stock circles, Moreover, it is very, singular, in'fni'O of tlicfact that, at the Feilding stock sales on Friday there was a rather serious drop in the prices of both cattle and sheep, amounting to from 10s (id to l">s per head 011 cattle, and some shillings on sheep. Farmers,when asked the cause of the sudden fall, expressed.the opinion that prices of all stock, and especially of stores, had been too high.in relation'to the price of .meai. One farmer said, that apparently dealers were not operating, and possibly freezing companies' had. come to some arrangement to give lower prices than had ruled last year, when, as a •consequence of the excessive'prices, some freezing companies did. not'pay expenses. In view of local 'developments, the news froiii Hiiwke's Bay as to the assumed operations of the .trust renders the problem more'complcx.and difficult to understand,