MEAT AND PRICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17174, 29 November 1917, Page 9

MEAT AND PRICES

AMERICAN BUYING IN NEW ZEALAND. AEMOUR'S POSITION INTERESTING EVIDENCE The report of the Meat Export Trade Committee, which was presented to Parliament, has now been printed. The committee recommends, inter alia, that special care" shall be taken "to see that foreign firms and their agents, and also companies registered in New Zealand, with small capital, which carry on Jarge businesses by means of outside financial support, shall not escape taxation on the grounds that small, if any, profits aro made on their trading in the dominion." The Government is also urged to consider a scheme for controlling:—(a) The export of frozen meat after the war and (b) in conjunction with the Imperial Government, the distribution of meat in Britain. (Note.—Thi3 is necessary to prevent tho exploitation of the producer or consumer by meat trusts." PRIME MINISTER AFRAID. The Prime Minister.(Mr W. F. Ulaseoy), in commenting on meat trust methods, said, in the course of his evidence: —Meat which is released [by the Imperial Government] and goes into the hands of the Meat Trust is only about 1 per cent, of that released, and would probably not be more than i per cent, of that sent from New Zealand. We cannot, however, shut our eyes to the influence. Personally, I am rather afraid of it. They must possess an enormous amount of influence with an enormous capital behind them. . . . The Government must see that there will be no such thing as preferential [shipping] rates with the American Meat Trust. Dr Reakee {Director of Live Stock Division): "The incoming of American meat companies into New Zealand constitutes one of the most serious matters that has ever confronted the New Zealand producers. We know their history in the United States."' JOINT IMPERIAL SCHEME. Mr W. H. Milward (managing director Gear Company) outlined a scheme for joint control of tie New Zealand meat output by tho Dominion Government in this country and the Imperial Government in the Old Country. The Chairman: Your'contention is that this combine has squeezed down the producer to a, lower price than his stock is ■worth? Mr Milward: Yes. Tho freights were lower from Argentine; and, further, than that what the companies were selling on their own account in England was far considerably more than tho meat released by the Government. Mr W. H. Field: You are satisfied that the trusts are operating here? Mr Millward: Yes; I do not think tl)ere is any doubt about that. Mr W. G. Foster (managing director Wellington Meat Export Company): The trouble is the Trust Companies do not contribute to the New Zealand revenue at all as compared with those companies which a're registered here and are New Zealand companies. This gives them an enormous advantage over other New Zealand companies which are trading here.