KEEPING A KEEN EYE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 86, 31 May 1911, Page 5

KEEPING A KEEN EYE.

WATCHING THK MEAT TItUST. JNFOEMATKv; FliOM AUSTRALIA. The warranty of a question raiser by the A.uckland Farmois’ Union: “Are the American moat trusts updating in this country; are the Shaw Savill and Albion people joining hands with the Morgan Combine, and, if so is the Government keeping a kce; eye on the threatened danger to om meat-growing industry?” was the. basis of an interview with the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie by a “Star” representative. • \Vo nave boon keeping 1 lie vcr;> -closest eye on what wo can learn ii connection with the movements of the American meat trust,” answered the Minister. “A great many rumours are in the air, hut up to the presort wo can obtain no tangible and reliable evidence of any operation in New Zealand,” ho assured the interviewer. “It is quite true,” lie wont on, “ar was said at the Fanners’ Union, that .the shipping and meat companies arc working into each other’s hands : that lias been the case for many years. The one has been dependent more, oi less on the other. "I nave been .in communication with Australia on this subject,” remarked the Minister, “and have re ceivcd some very reliable information of the discoveries made over then as to what has been going on in thCommomvealth. It appears that buyers connected with big American linns have been visiting almost even freezing works in the country, wit! the exception, perhaps, of Messrs John Cooke and Co.’s works. 'That firm I am assured, declined to allov. any such visit to its works. However, these agents did the States systematically', riding on horseback right 'through the country to the Gulf of 'Carpentaria. The leading buyer has since returned to the United States !ofi Apiprica, but another one remains, watching market rates at Adelaide. Sydney, and Melbourne. It is said that one of the combinations desire; to increase its present capital enormously, and is about to guarantee V timeout, interest on this now share capital when it is profitable or not. ;tlio idea being to get rid of as much stock among the shareholders interested in the frozen meat export trade as possible. It is also stated there is a particularly shrewd American of attractive personality, keen in business and plausible to the last degree, entrusted with the direction oi affairs in Australia. However, the Commonwealth's legislation regarding trusts should prove a considerable Stumbling block to the successful. establishment of any methods likely tc he of a crippling character to the in terests of the produced - .”