The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-19
HARVESTER TRUST
IN new ZEALAND
Efforts Made to Bar by Law the
American Combine Now
Worrying Dealers.
Journal Special Service.

SpSSAoA
Wellington, Nov. lS.-The operations
Of the American harvester trust in New
Zealand continue to attract the atten-
tion OF public men and the public gen
orally. Members of theSlocal parliament
and the premier have been interviewed
by representatives Of the New Zealand
manufacturers, who, after fully consid-
ering the matter, decided to ask the
government to prohibit the combine
same time they explained that they did
not wish such prohibition to prevent
| local firms from importing the goods of
the combine. 1t was stated that it was
only within the last year that the trust
entered into active competition with
| colonial firms. Formerly the colonial
firms had imported trust goods when
1 they wanted them and no firm had any
serious cause for complaint.
= To Save the Industry. D..
1t was suggested to members of par
I lament that the implement industry
would be saved to the colony if the com
bine were subjected to the prohibition
mentioned. Unless some decided steps
were taken the local industry would be
wiped out and then the combine would
it's machines, so that while farmers
might get cheap machines for awhile,
eventually they would be the sufferers.
| The combination had taken an Austria
liam harvester to America, duplicated it.,
and exploited the Argentine republic,
the result being that today it was sell
ing in South America for $500 the har-
vester that it was selling in Australia
where there was still some competition
for $500.
The manufacturers contend that un-
less some drastic measures are taken
against the combination the same situa-
tion will be created in this colony.
-. No Duty Against Trust.
facturers - that whereas trust imple-
ments come in duty Free there is a
duty on parts and on raw material i'm
ported for manufacturing purposes.
The combine it appears, has also
taken a New Zealand zinc harrow, the
product of New Zealand brains and en-
terprise, and had it copied, bolt for bolt
to meet the New Zealand demand. The
New Zealand firms acknowledge that
this, tho the colonial code Of business
morality gives each firm protection
against it's fellow firms -'
The Australian manufacturers also
point out that America scores par.
ticularly in regard to labor, the Ameri-
can artisan working with the best ma
chimes on piece work, so that his output
is much greater and much cheaper than
that Of the colonial workman, who re-
ceives fixed wage and who works just
as he pleases. '~'>
Cannot Meet Competition.
Simply putt the position is that the
New Zealand manufacturer cannot meet
, the competition of the combinations in
AmericaJ It is claimed that the trust
has capital of $l25,000,000 and that
it will be able to annihilate the colonial
firms within four; or five years, or a.
( to the level Of repairing shops.
II When the question of prohibiting tn
combination from operating in New
| Zealand was put to the premier h
asked the deputation if they wanted ;
commercial war with America. ....
7 Mr.. Sedon, confronted with genera
election and probably some opposition
| from the farmers, did not seem disposed
{ to take any action, either by way o
hibitive tariff. MI.
All he would do was to advise tn
, manufacturers to confer with represent
: atives of the farmers and endeavor t.
: prove to them that in the long run j
Z would be best for them to patroniz
= = | the local manufacturer.
s Killing Local Industries.
f The local manufacturers maintain
n that the local Industries will be kille'
: by the trust, whereas If it is prohibite'
n in New Zealand, the number of me
J. chanics in the implement manufactu1
9 ing industry will, in few years, be in
4 creased by $50 or 200 per cent. In 100
the number Of implements manufac
4 tured in the colony was between 5000
?. and 100000 The number importe
5 reached $4,000. A great deal of car
i ital has ben made out Of the so-calle
>, natural protection that New Zealander
), enjoy against manufacturers in Ameri
5, ca owing to the question Of freight
> but this is. a pure myth, the freight
l. from America, owing to shipping com
petition, enabling the Americans t
send a drill from New York to any on
of the four centers Of New Zealan
= for $40, whereas the freight betwee
: the two New Zealands, such as Lyttle
4 ton and New Plymouth, is exactly dou
q BILE that figure.