The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdyas, Thursdays and Saturdays. Thursday, April 20th, 1911. THE BEEF TRUST.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 5702, 20 April 1911, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdyas, Thursdays and Saturdays. Thursday, April 20th, 1911. THE BEEF TRUST.

Speaking of trade opportunities between the United States and New Zealand, the Consul - General for America in Australia, Mr Henry G. Baker, mentioned to a‘ New Zealand Times' representative the possibility of a growth in the American demand for New Zealand meat, mutton in particular. The pressman’s reply was that this would be an excellent thing if it was not accompanied by the introduction of “ Beef Trust ” buying methods. Mr Baker was, however, prepared to demonstrate that the Dominion would largely benefit by the operation of the aggregation of meat companies sometimes called the Beef Trust, though not a “ trust ” in the legal acceptation of the term. “The American production of meat,” said Mr Baker, “ is apparently failing to keep paco with the growth in the demand. Our farmers have been extraordinarily prosperous, and they are going in more and more for mixed farming rather than stock-raising. The rising standard of living and the increase in wages have caused a big growth in the demand for the best class meat, with the result that the packing companies have to turn their attention to fresh sources of supply. My own opinion is that if they began to do business in New Zealand it would be to your advantage, beoause it would create a new demand, a new market for your product. There might be some difficulty in arranging for imports of New Zealand meat into America unless these big packing companies had some representative out here and make special arrangements for buying from the producers.” “We would not object to the trade, but we might have cause to regret the American methods,” suggested the interviewer.

“ If these companies expect to do business,” replied Mr Baker, “ they would not want to do anything to the disadvantage of New Zealand. Every country which supplies meat to America in this way has benefited by getting this large and steady trade, and I have not heard of any serious complaints from the producing interests about so-called “ trust.” The consumers complain about the high price of meat, but the producers do not mind high prices, do they ? I have an idea that if the American buyers Came to New Zealand, prices would go up, and perhaps some of the local consumers would not like it, but the country as a whole is engaged exclusively in the production of this commodity, which is one of its chief sources of prosperity, and the general benefits accruing indirectly from American buying would off-set the disadvantage suffered by a few local consumers.”