THE MEAT TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18032, 4 September 1920, Page 8

THE MEAT TRADE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —In tho past the Farmers' Union has consistently and unitedly opposed any attempt of the Atncrican Moat Trust to get a footing- in the- do mini on. Itea 1 ismg that producers are now faced with the necessity of finding a fresh outlet for their meat, a very astute move has recently ham made by uie Trust, with the result that many members of tie union arc now advocating that an export license' should lie granted to Armour and Co. That a market must bo found for , our meat, and that the outlet lies in the i United States, is undoubted; but it is surely not necessary to permit any trust or combine i to make use of the producer in gaining- that I market. The Farmers' Union, the Sheep--1 owners' Federation, and the A. and P. Assoj ciations should at once approach the Government in an attempt to provide wav and s means of forwarding regular shipments of , meat to the States, with the- object of not j only getting over the present congestion, but _ also with a. view to permanently establishing i the trade. If the Government should propose to keep the matter "steadily in view," let tho 1 growers follow tho lead of Gisborne and provide their own chipping. 0 It is evident that the press and people of > U.S.A. would wclcomo a regular supply of meat from sources free of the control of the :1 Trust, and the present is a. most opportune 3 time to arrange that supply. If Sir Thomas e Mackenzie's services could be secured for tho purpose of organising- the trade here and in a tho States certain success would bo assured, :1 and instead of a trust with its headquarters' capital, and profits out of reach of dominion taxation, wo wruld havo not cnly rn <-xceeas inocly profitable industry, but a "taxable one r also. —I am, etc., n E. Muenev, r Hon. Sec., Tapanui Branch N.Z.F.U.