Summary

Drawing by Ambrose Dyson, 1946. This cartoon reflects trade union concern in 1946 that the Australian meat industry would fall prey to an international oligopoly including the firms Vestey Brothers, Swifts and Armours. In response to these concerns a Meat Export Control Act was passed in August 1946. This cartoon may have been published in the Meatworker, official journal of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union. It was exhibited at the Social Realists Exhibition at the Melbourne Contemporary Art Gallery in July 1990.

Edward Ambrose Dyson (1908-1952) was a prominent member of the Australian social realist art movement, and contributed a weekly cartoon to the Guardian from 1949 to 1952. His father (Ambrose Dyson) and an uncle (Will Dyson) were also cartoonists. In 1945 he joined the Communist Party and was an active member until his death in 1952.

Description of Content

Drawing - Barrier

Physical Description

Raw wooden, framed, mounted ink cartoon. The centre of the cartoon is filled by a worker, 'AMIEU', with his sleeves rolled up confronting a fat man in a top hat (l.r.), 'INTERNATIONAL MEAT MONOPOLY'. In the c.l. and l.l. are factory buildings and chimneys, inscribed AUSTRALIAN/CONDITION S'.

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