'WARE THE COMBINE!

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10669, 16 August 1920, Page 5

'WARE THE COMBINE!

; A NOTE OF CAUTION AMERICAN MEAT TRUST methods deplored. "keep them out of new Zealand." (By Telegraph.—Special to "Times.") MASTERTON, August 13. At a large meeting of farmers held at Mastcrton ou Saturday afternoon, Mr W. Perry, patron of tho -Mastcrton Agricultural and Pastoral Association I who is a membor of tho Board of AgriI culture, and one of the leading sheepbreeders of New Zealand, made .a very strong and forceful fattack on the Meat Trust, and tho great danger it would be to this Dominion onco it got a grip here. Mr Perry said that tho matter deeply concerned every person in New Zealand. If the Meat Trust got a footing in the Dominion, it would not bo the [fanners ale-no who would suffer, but every inhabitant, whether ho bo shopkeeper, merchant, carpenter, brick- ' layer, miner, clerk, or commercial man. Mr Perrv dealt in a trenchant manner with the 1 attempt of tho Meat Trust to get a footing iu Now Zealand. Referriug to the firm of Armour and Co., and holding up a pamphlet entitled "The Truth About tho American Meat Trust," Mr Perry said: ""Wo have here a very nicoly-worded, nicely-printed pamphlet; a delightful production of its kind. After reading the pamphlet one would really think that they were coming out to Now Zealand to help us, but even in this nicely-produced pamphlet they cannot hide the fact that they are a big combine. If »there is ono big business monopoly only in a country there is not muck room for anyone else." After referring to the resolutions of tho Canterbury sheepfaraers support ing a license being granted to Armour and Co. to .start operations in New Zealand, Mr Perry went on to nay that the fact was being laboured that we must have competition to secure the best results for the producer. "But the fact, however, was," he said, "being carefully hidden away from the farmer and tho public that meat can bo sold f.o.b. to anyone, and tlfen disposed of anywhere in the world. A CAREFULLY-HIDDEN FACT. "Armour and Co. could do this. It is not necessary for them fo havo a license, and they aro carefully hiding this very vital fact. Tho ''Globe' newspaper, of New York, which recently obtained large supplies of New Zealand mutton for shipment to America, where it was disposed of, did not require a license to secure the meat. It was simply purchased f.0.b., and then shipped to tho United States. If Armour'and Co. desire to engage in the moat-buying trade, they can do 60 without a license and on the f.o.b. principle." CANTERBURY ACTION CRITICISED. Mr Perry very strongly criticised the action of tho Canterbury sheepfarmera in supporting tho issuing of a license to Armour and Co. "-What will happen to tho , small firms," he 6aid, "if this company starts in NewZealand? Tho company states that it does not want to erect freezing works, etc. That is all very well, but what will bo tho ultimate position?" Mr Perry then referred to tho fate of Nelson and Son in South America, who had been forced on to the rocks 'by the American Meat Trust. Doaling with tho statements in the pamphlet concorninff the "answer to tho report of the Federal Trade Commission" which investigated matters connected with the American Meat Trust, Mr Perry said that the result of the Federal Trade Commission inquiry, instituted by the President', of, the United States, was that the American Meat Combine had been ordered to sell out, within three years, their packing houses, refrigerator cars, and other appliances by which they were enabled to dominate the meat trado ol the United States. "The conscqueneo is," said Mr Perry, "that the American combino is putting up packinghouses, etc., in every part of the world. —<in South Africa, in Brazil, and so on. Then again, the pamphlet asks. 'What is going to happen to your prices when the moat commandeer in lifted if you restrict competition amona buyers?' The reply to that is very simple. Nobody proposes restrictions except against American and similar monopolists. THE TRUST'S "COMPETITION."

"Now wie come to another statement in tho pamphlet which says, 'Now these packers are not engaged in any combine or conspiracy in restraint of trade,: on the contrary, they aro keen, open, energetic competitors, one against another.' Wo find, however," added Mr Perry, 'that conclusive evidence was given before President Wilson's Federal Commission that, though, at a stockyard sale the members of the ©oinbin© appeared to be competing, tho cattle or hogs were afterwards divided out among the packers according to a recognised percentage previously agreed upon and maintained for years. Those who have the welfare of New Zealand at heart and feel the importance of keeping the freezing indutstr,y in the hands of Now Zcalanders ' must recognise that the inore wc keep these people at a distance the better. If they desire to purchase meat they can buy it f.o.b. and the f o.b price will be the price that will rule tho farmers. 1 '"

Mr Perry strongly urged the farmers of the Dominion to opposes a license being granted to Armour and Co., and he then moved; "That this meeting of farmers views with alarm the efforts now being made to. urge the Government 1« grant a meat-trading license in New Zealand to Armour and Co. and would strongly urge tho Government to do all within its powers to keep combines, such as the Meat Trust, ti-om operating in New Zealand." "KEEP THE COUNTRY FREE." In seconding the resolution, Mr W. 11. Buick, president of the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, endoraed Mr Perry's remarks, and 6arid that it was tip to the farmers to club together and keep the combine out of New Zealand. "This is a free country, and wo should keep it so," said Mr Buick. After some further discussion,«, in which several farmers expressed ""the opinion that the combine should be kept out of New Zealand, tho motion was carried unanimously.