MEAT TRUST MENACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16583, 5 July 1917, Page 4

MEAT TRUST MENACE.

OPERATIONS IN DOMINION,

GOVERNMENT ALERT.

[BY TELEGRAriI— CORRESFOXDEXT.]

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Tot opo-ationa of the meat trust were referred to by Mr. V. E. Reed (Bay of Islands) in the House of Representatives to-night. He said he was sorry that the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward had not brought back with them a more definite plan of attack upon the threatened operations of the meat trust. They would have to attack it here in the freezing works of New Zealand. No freezing works should be owned by shareholders who were not New Zoalanders. They must attack it in the shipping and in the home markets. There was nothing to prevent the Government from dealing with it in New. Zealand. The Government should bring down legislation for the purpose of preventing the trust coming here if it was not here already. Personally ho thought that it was hero. Mr. Reed said he thought he had seen its influence in the North Auckland Peninsula. If the Government prevented outside capital from going into New Zealand freezing works it would prevent the trust from getting a hold. Mr. Massey said that he proposed to refer the matter to tho Agricultural Committee or a special committee for inquiry and report, to obtain an opinion as to the most effective way of preventing the trust from getting a hold in New Zealand. The matter was receiving the attention of the British Board of Trade, but it was not likely to be able to do very much until the war was over.