A DENIAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 150, 26 June 1915, Page 2

A DENIAL

1 MR. r A. E. G. RHODES AND MEAT COMPANIES. (IT TKLEORAPU— PRESS ASSOCUTI9N.) OHRISTCHUBCH, 25th 1 Jane. In tho course of a, deputation to the Prime Minister at Wellington recently Mr. R. Burns, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, stated "that Mr. A. B. G. Rhodes, who was closely connected with the Christchurch Meat Co., was also a director of tho Now* Zealand Shipping Co." The same speaker contended "that in one of tho Canterbury companies men who were directors of «, shipping company held a-u interest of £180,000." Mr Rhodes, seen by a reporter today, said he had read the account of the deputation, and if there was any inference that he had any monetary interest in the Christchurch Meat Company or the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, he gave it an unqualified denial. The only frozen xne-at company shares ho had. ever held,, in his own interest, in his life, were a few in the original South Canterbury Company, which were taken up to start, tho company, and were sold shortly after it was etarted, and a few shares in the Chatham Islands Shipping Gompanj. which froze fish in the Chatham Islands. He had never advanced any of his own money on deposit, or mortgage, to any frozen meat company excep* the Chatham Islands Shipping Company. Some fifteen years ago, when the Christohurch Meat Company wished to borrow money, he had acted as trustee, with others, for their debenture-holders, but only for a short period, and he did not take up any debentures personally. Tho Canterbury Frozen Meat Company did rent offices which ho was interested in, but beyond that he had no financial interest in either of the companies. "1 do hope," said Mr Rhodes, "that Mr Burns, when he sees this, v;ill,at once withdraw his statement as far as I am concerned, and that the newspapers that published his statement will print ,my denial. A reference lo the Cbristehuieh Frozen Meat Company's balance-sheet would show that, nobody is fortunate onough to hold, debentures or a mortgage of £100,000 from them except the shareholders."