THE MEAT TRADE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13903, 14 May 1909, Page 5

THE MEAT TRADE.

POOLING OF COMPANIES

REPORT BY COMMITTEE

Press Assoeiation-By Telegraph-Copyriglit Received 9.45 p.m., Mav 13th. . LONDON," May 13.

The committee which was appointed to consider the combination of the meat trade, .reports that the combinatioa ol' the Hammond,:.Armour, Swift, an.l Morris Companies .is not a serious -i« :i----,ger at. present, but the companies appear to be. endeavouring to acquire controlling interests in. the Argentina, and there are also inquiries on the part of trolling interests in Argentina, and New Zealand. Estancieros in Argentina are opposing the United States invasion, fearing that the price of their cattle will be affected in the absence of competitive buying, but the converging Argentine railways on Buenos- Ayres are not unfavourable to the combination. Though it is unlikely to arise ill the near future, if it succeeds, the combination may exercise a determining influence on beet' prices at Smithfield; and largely, affect the prices in Great Britain. The evidence regarding the United States' firms who control the Canadian live cattle trade is too vague to allow of a definite opinion.