THE LYSNAR CHARGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 125, 29 May 1925, Page 5

THE LYSNAR CHARGES.

MEAT WORKS INQUIRY. DR. REAEJE3 EXAMINED. (By Telegraph.—Press A-:-- :u;lu;i.) WELLINGTON, Tnursday. At the meat works inquiry to-day Dr. Reakes, Director-General of Agriculture, said that the Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald, when Minister of Agriculture, was instrumental in passing the Act of 1018. and was strongly opposed to trusts, yet he had renewed Yuoteys' license from \ear to year. Witness said he had closely supervised the operations of Vesteys, but declared that their operations were not inimical to the public, interest. lie denied that the Hon. W. Nosworthy had been in any way influenced by big financial interests. Regarding the sale of the Poverty Bay works to Vostcys, Dr. Kcakes said the Minister was impressed by the facts that the local authorities .themselves did not protest against the transfers. Witness told Mr. Nosworthy that be could not Sv'c anything to warrant Mr. Nosworthy in refusing consent to the transfer. Witness considered that the closing of one of the three Poverty Bay works would benefit the farmers there, and. as Vesteys had not been guilty of anything that" would warrant refusal of a transfer, he would not be justified in assuming that if tho license were transferred Yesteys would proceed to adopt methods inimical to the public interest. Since the granting of the license he knew of no facts showing that any injury to the farmers in the district had resulted.