ALLEGED EXPLOITATION

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 254, 25 October 1919, Page 7

ALLEGED EXPLOITATION

BY REPATRIATION COMMITTEE. ■ INQUIRY AT THAMES. A commission of inquiry sat at the Court House, Thames, yesterday, to investigate allegations made against the administration of the locai Repatriation' Committee. Mr. F. J. Burgesis, S.M., prc-| sided. The whole of the committee, Messrs. Claxton, Miller, Hetherington, Mackay, Lowe, and Ens-oil, were present. Mr. F. If. Burbu-h, district repatriation officer, represented the Repatriation Department, and Mr. Price the Returne.l .Soldiers' Association. The charges were contained in two letters forwarded to the chairman of the Repatriation Board, Wellington, by Taylor Bros It was alleged that several members of the local committee were directors of the Thames Fisheries, Ltd., and were using their position on ti:e committee in the interests of the fisheries, as, from information received I from returned _o':dier_ applying for assistance to procure fishing plant, it appeared necessary for applicants to he willing to re.-'trict themselves to fishing for the Fisheries, Ltd., to the exclusion of other freezing works, to enable them to obtain the assistance they were seeking. The writers con-idered that exploitation was being carried on. Evidence in support oi the allegations was given at length by C. W. Taylor, Albert Bruce, and C N. Batt, a returned soldier, who had been an applicant for assistance to enable him to commence ■fishing operitior.e. Evidence was also given in the .-ame direction by another returned soidier named Heenan, all endeavouring to sustain the allegations. For the board evidence was given by the chairman, Claxton, Hetherington. secretary-, and Burbusu, denying the allegations in toto. The inquiry closed this evening, ant Mr. Burgess will report on the evidence to Wellington.