SALE TO VESTEY'S.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 83, 8 April 1925, Page 8

SALE TO VESTEY'S.

CONFIDENTIAL CABLEGRAMS

WITHHELD FROM WITNESS. HOARD'S CHAIRMAN PROTESTS. (V.y Vress Association.) \\ ELLINGTON, this day. . At the Yostey inquiry to-day, Mr.l Join's, chairman of the -Meat Hoard, complained that he could not bo expected to answer clnirgeu made against him unless lie knew the contents of cables which Mr. Lysnar declared were conlidcnlial and should not be disclosed, when the. question of freight for the Admiral C'odriiiglon was being considered. The chairman was about to hand two cable- i grams to Mr. Skonvtt when Mr. Lysnar objected, on the ground that they were handed to the commission on condition that the contents were not to be; disclosed.

Mr, Skerrett: Why should they not be disclosed?

Mr. Lysnar: T don't want your clients to see those cables.

In reply to Mr. Skcrrctt, Mr. Jones said there could be only one reason why the cables should not be disclosed, and that was that Mr. Lysnar wanted to deceive the public and witness. "A charge has been made against mc as a, public man," he added, "and unless 1 can see those cables I will have to fight with my hands tied behind my back." Mr. Jones said the cables were vital to him.

The Chairman said the production of these cables might l>e oppressive. "Mr. Lysnar says he has objection to any rivals in the shipping world knowing the probable trade in which this ship might run in, or is likely to run in."

Mr. Lysnar: Or, who would finance the running.

Mr. Skerrett said lie did not believe there was any question of finance. He, could not accept Mr. Lysnar'a statement. There were before the Commission papers in which Mr. Lysnar stated that in February, 1924, his company had no interest in the ship. The Chairman said those papers had been got on an arrangement agreed to by all parties that the documents should be treated as confidential.

Mr. Skerrett said be hud agreed to that condition in ignorance of the nature of the documents, and on reprosentatiou which he believed to be untrue.

Mr. Lysnar said he was willing to allow Mr. Skerrett to see the cables provided he did not disclose thorn to his client. This offer Mr. Skerrett declined. It was decided to hold the matter over till later.