Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-11
BEEF TRUST IN AUSTRALIA
Correspondence

Correspondence OF Associated Press ]
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, Decem-
Der lo.--No evidence OF restraint OF
trade or monopoly by the American
beef trust" In Australia was ad-
duced by the recent three months
Federal inquiry. according to the re-
port OF the royal commissioner. JUS
tice Street. who conducted the invcsti-
cation. He adds:
ut Is improbable that any one of these
three companies ISwift's. Morris and
Armour) has any present intention OF
engaging in local trade In Australia.
Their immediate object in coming here
Is to increase their supplies OF re-
frigerated meat for distribution In the
course Of their trade In the United
Kingdom and the United States. AT
present they control upwards OF one
half OF the beef exported to the United
Kingdom and from South America,
and If. In addition. they acquire con-
troll over large proportion OF the
output OF frozen meat from Australia
"a power which they are said to pos
sess already-prices In the United
Kingdom will be very largely increased.
II they combine for that purpose their
organization and financial resources
would probably enable them to acquire
q
the output from Australia. The mat
ter Is one OF imperial and Argentine.
as we'll as Australian, concern. and
recommend that the government Of the
Commonwealth endeavor to arrange
with the imperial government and with
the government Of the Argentine Re-
public for the frequent interchange OF
communications and opinions in con-
nection with future developments. with
the view to concerted action, IL neces-
sary and practicable, in the event OF
any detrimental combination OF forces
being reported"
The commissioner finds that the Swift
Beef Company. OF London, "under the
guise Of the Australian Meat Export
Company, company registered In
Queensland, has established works in
that state and has begun exporting;
that the Morris Beef Company, of Lon
don, has purchased site on the Bris-
bane River, also in Queensland, with n
view OF the establishment of n plant, and
that Armour & Co.. Of London, are pur-
chasing refrigerated and canned meat
through the agency OF an Australian
firm, has been negotiating for an In
terest In the output of more than one
meat concern and has already bought
5000 cattle on the hoof, which ARE
being treated and shipped on It's behalf
by the Government Produce Depart
ment OF the State OF South Australia.
lie also mas tndt the Cudany rack
Ing Company has made purchases In
Australia for It's business In the United
States. and contemplates appointing an
Australian firm as Its agents, but that
this Is the extent of its activities in
the Commonwealth, and 1t has acted
throughout Independently Of the other
packing companies.
The inquiry grew out OF tho politi-
cal and popular agitation caused by the
operations OF the Swift Company in
Queensland, and was very thorough
one. Witnesses were heard, including
officials and business men,
a striking paragraph in the report
which Is now before the Federal Par
lament, and may result in antitrust
legislation OF n rigid kind by the Labor
party, now In power. is this:
The agreement between the Queen
land Meat Export and Agency Company
(the Swift Company and FIVE other
companies. by which that company
tenders for the supply OF frozen meat
to the United States Army In the
Philippine Islands. and the others share
in providing the necessary supplies
under contract, IL. by its elimination
OF the element OF competition. an