FIGHTING THE MEAT TRUST.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 27, 9 April 1918, Page 2

FIGHTING THE MEAT TRUST.

At the meeting of the Provincial Executive of the Sounds and District Farmers’ Union, held in Havelock on Saturday, Gth April, the report of the committee set up to draft a policy to deal with the meat trade on the lines of the Executive’s resolution was considered and adopted. Your committee (Messrs G. Anderson, F. C. Fell, J. C. M. Grensill, and J. H. Saunderson) report as follows: For the carrying out of the scheme presented here it is suggested that the Imperial Government should convene a Conference in London at which would be represented A. The Imperial Government. B. Representatives of the Government of each country engaged in the Frozen Meat Industry. C. Representatives of ihe producers of the various countries engaged in the Foreign Meat Industry, nominated by the producers.

At this Conference an effort wnuld be made to get each country to agree to the adoption of the first 4 clauses of this scheme. The last 4 clauses relate only to local projects for eliminating the ■ Meat Trust.

The countries at present engaged in the Foreign Meat Trade are the Argentine, Australia, and New Zealand. South Africa also contemplates enter- 1 ing into the trade and mignt be invited to the conference. As representatives of the Dominion Governments will shortly be going Home to me Imperial War Conference, there seems to be no reason why a conference on the Meat Trade and Trust methods should not be held at the same time while they are in London. Anything aimed at eliminating the unfair methods of the Meat Trust should have the whole support of the. Trade Unions and the community generally. That the Parliamentary Committees report relating to the Meat Trust be brought before the Dominion Conference with the view of its being at once acted on. The Parliamentary report reads as follows : The committee therefore recommends:

1. That legislation be at once passed giving the Government power to make it illegal to grant concessions in consideration of exclusive dealing and to control or prohibit special rebates. 2. That the Government promote legislation generally (a) to control monoplies (b) to prevent unfair trading by freezing companies or shipping companies; and (c) to provide for issuing licenses to freezing works and the business of meat exporters; (d) dealing with shipping as common carriers; (e) making charges of carriers just and reasonable; (f) preventing undue preference; (g) prohibiting pooling of freights and earnings; and (h) providing that common carriers shall print and exhibit schedules. 3. That (.ho Government should forthwith consider a scheme for (a) controlling the export of frozen <raeat after the war, and (b) in conjunction with the Imperial Government, the distribution of meat in Britain. (Note: — This is necessary to prevent the exploitation of the producer or consumer by meat trusts.) 4. That effective measures should, in the interests of the British consumer, be taken by the Imperial Government to control the prices of released meat in Britain. 5. That the Goveriime'ut, either in conjunction with the Home Government or the New Zealand producer, consumer, and importer, or with all these parties, should establish a controlling interest in the freights and shipping between New Zealand and Great Britain. 6. That the Government should, in the interests of the small producer, and in view of the probable serious shortage of storage space, take power to prevent large buyers monopolizing space in freezing works during the war. 7. That special care be taken to see that foreign firms and their agents, and also companies registered in New Zealand with small capital, which carry on large businesses by means of outside financial support, shall not escape taxation on the grounds that small, if any, profits are made on their trading in the Dominion. Provision should be made that such firms shall be taxed to an amount £ot less than is paid by New Zealand firms not so financed or controlled. Your Committee further recommend that clauses 3 and 5 of such Parliamentary Committee's report be the frame work of a remit from this Provincial to the Dominion Conference and that the following scheme giving details necessary to make such clauses effective be adopted, namely:— I. It is suggested that the Imperial Government should establish a grading system by which all foreign and colonial meat imported into the United Kingdom would be purchased wholesale and retailed according to its merits. 11. It is suggested that the whole of the imported meat trade of the United Kingdom should be put under the control of a Board composed of members nominated by the Imperial Government, such persons nominated to be in nowise associated with the buying or selling of meat, and representatives from each country concerned in the frozen meat industry, nominated by the producers of each State, and also a representative of each country’s Government to watch the interests of the consumer as well as the producer in his own l.and. This Board to fix the wholesale and retail prices of the various grades in accordance with the British and European markets for any period that may be decided upon. 111. It is suggested that a system of indelible branding of meat be adopted to show country of origin and to prevent inferior grades being sold as Ist quality. . IV. It is suggested that the Imperial Government become the sole purchasers of foreign meat imported into the United Kingdom and release it only to those dealers who hold a license from the Controlling Board at the prices fixed by the Board. V. It is suggested that no meat be exported from Now Zealand to any other country than the United King, dom except under special Government

license, under conditions guaranteed by the Government of the importing country. YI. It is suggested that the New Zealand Government (who represent the consumers) in conjunction with representatives of the producers and trade, should control the export trade of the Dominion so as to ensure adequate supplies being maintained in the country for local consumption and should fix the price of meat from time to time based on Imperial values. VII. It is suggested that failing satisfactory rates being established with the Freezing Companies for the handling of stock, based on Imperial prices, the above Board to have power to fix such rates.

VIII. That the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Committee dealing with shipping be adopted.