COMMISSION AND COMPANY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 108, 7 May 1912, Page 7

COMMISSION AND COMPANY

SUGAR ENQUIRY DEADLOCK. CERTAIN STEPS~TO BE TAKEN.. By Telegraph.— Press Association —Copyright SYDNEY, 6th May. ' When the Sugar Commission met today, the chairman, Mr. Justice Gordon, announced that in view of certain facts which had been • published, Mr. E. W. Knox, manager of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, evidently believed he had grounds for the accusation made against the commission, therefore he (the chairman) withdrew the terms in which he had characterised the accusation when he said Mr. Knox's defiance was a deliberate lie. Whatever Mr. Knox's belief was, however, the charge was baseless. He then called upon Mr. Knox and other directors of the Sugar Company, but all failed to respond. The chairman stated he would now leave the matter in the hands of the Federal Government, and adjourned the sittings till Thursday. Mr. Kttox forwarded a letter stating that he would appear when he had the assurance of the commission that the statement tendered by him would be received in full as part of the record of the commission, and when the record of evidence already taken was supplied to him and time and opportunity given for replying to it. Later the chairman of the company, the Hon. H. E." Kater, wrote stating that the absence of himself and his codirectors was a protest against the treatment the company and the general manager had received at the hands of the commission. They were prepared to attend if, after Mr. Knox had presented the company's case and had an opportunity ot replying to the evidence already taken, the commissioners were still of opinion that a useful purpose would be served. Mr. W. M. Hughes, Attorney-General, states that he has given instructions for certain' stops to be taken.