§ 27. Mr. STANTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the recent annual report of the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company, of London and New Zealand, pointing out 1146 the efforts of the Chicago beef monopoly to corner the meat output of New Zealand and seriously warning the British public; whether his attention has been called to the secret operations in the Colony of the meat trust; and whether, seeing that irritation and suspicion exists throughout the Colony as to what companies are and what are not under American control, he will at once confer with the New Zealand Prime Minister, now in London, as to what steps are necessary to keep this source of Britain's food supply entirely free of any description of foreign influence?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Long)My attention has been drawn to the matters referred to in the question, though I have not seen the particular report mentioned, and I have already been in communication with the Prime Minister of New Zealand on the subject, with a view to considering what action can be taken.