A MEAT TRUST

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7023, 11 January 1910, Page 3

A MEAT TRUST

HOW ONE MAN DEALT WITH IT. A well-known Home politician was talking- about the Budget the other day and told this story:— "The Caliph Haroun al Baschid," he said, /had onco to wrestle with a meat trust in Bagdad. "Bosf, for some reason, got a Kittle scarce, and immediately all the butchers met in secret conclave and doubled their prices. Nasreclclin, a millionaire., was the head of this trust.

'The Caliph heard all about the trust from his Grand Vizier. He said nothing. But, a day or eo later, he invited nil the Bagdad butchers to the royal palace. "Ths butchers, knowing their Caliph's vulgar love for the. common people, went to Mini with fear and trembling. But he greeted them with kind words; and Jo' in the great marble hall a superb feast was spread. The Caliph, ere he left the room, waved them graciously to table. They ate heartily. The meat course! was particularly good. Where, though

was Naircddin, Nnsreddin, the millionaire organiser of their trust?

"As they by turns praised the meat, and asked one another where Nasreddin could be the Caliph returned. His aspect: now was stern. "'Where,' he s:iid from his dais, 'is X.'isr'Udin, 0 butchers?'

"Silence. No one knew. The Caliph frowned as black as a thunder cloud.

" 'Aasrcddin,' he roared, 'is here. You have just eaten him. Go home and reduce the price of meat, or your fate will be as his!'

"And since that day trusts havo been unknown in Bagdad." "Pearson'6 Weekly."