PURCHASE BY VESTEY'S

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 100, 1 May 1925, Page 4

PURCHASE BY VESTEY'S

ROYAL COMMISSION IN

GfSBORNE

QUERIES ABOUT- A MISSING

JOURNAL.

(II TILECRAPB.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) G-ISBORNE, "30th April. The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sale of the Poverty Bay Farmers' Meat Company works at Waipaoa. to Yestey Brothers was continued to-day. In the morning the Commission made an inspection of the works, and when the sitting resumed the question arose as to non-production of a private journal. The Commission had previously taken time to consider whether certain loose ledger sheets should be produced. Mi. Lysuar and his accountant, Philip Hamilton, were examined, but denied all know; ledge of the existence of a private journal.

Frank Porter, formerly accountant to the Poverty Bay Meat 'Company, was shown certain ledger entries, and said that they had been derived from the ontries in the missing private journal. He had handed all the.books in his possession to tho receiver. Ho described the .dimensions of the missing liook. which was supposed to have been placed with the other books in Mr. Lvsnar's strong-room.

For the National Bank of New Zealand.. Mr. Myers, and for the Government, Mr, Taylor insisted that the missing journal was most important as it contained the closing entries in regard to the Admiral Codrington up to August, 1923.

W. Hamilton Irvine, receiver to the company, stated that he had given the journals and ledger to Philip Hamilton, but didn't know whether the journal referred to was amongst those books. In reply to the chairman, witness said the missing book contained important annotations as to why transfers of certain balances were made. The information was important. ' George Witters resumed his evidence on certain parts of works, stating that after an inspection when Vestey's took over the buildings were in reasonably good condition. Witness denied the statement of Mr. Jolly that' the works had been starred, prior to Vestey's toking over. Had Vestey's offered to buy the works at £65,000, and had the Minister of Agriculture agreed to . it he (witness) would not have objected, as it was only a question of price. Answering Mr. Jones, witness said lie personally hadn't examined the charges made by Mr. Lysnar, aiid didn't know if the directors had discussed them. He ' contended the Meat Board had not acted fairly in regard to the Admiral Codrington, stating that Mr. Jones had not included the vessel in the shipping contract. Mr Jones contending that an application had not formally been.made. Witness submitted that Mr. Lysnar had made verbal application to Mr. Jones for tho inclusion of the vessel in the contract, but.the offer hadn't been given the consideration expected. Ho further stated that he would at least have ex--= peeled-Mr. Jones to have wired the company when the contracts were under consideration. ■ The proceedings were adjourned til] to-morrow. .- .. : . -