SEEKING ASSISTANCE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 102, 4 May 1925, Page 9

SEEKING ASSISTANCE

EVIDENCE BEFORE LYSNAR COMMISSION

VESTEY'S, AEMOUITS, OB WHO! (M IEUQBAPH.— mESS 4SSOCIATIOS.) GISBOBNE, 2nd May. ■ The Commission appointed to inquire into charges made in the House of Representatives by' Mr. Lysnar, continued its sittings to-day. . ■' . ' William Richmond, sheep farmer and) meat, exporter, living in Poverty Bay and operating also in Gisborne, gave cvi" dence m regard to the practice with! killing sheets. He said he claimed the. right to say where his killing Sheets, should go. His clients would get sheets, direct from him; the works were not. | supposed to divulge his killing sheets, without his consent. In February 1923 [witness met Messrs. Withers/Coop', Lysnar, and Carney in Napier to discni* the proposal that Armour's should advance money towards paying the banle off, and take security over the works Mr. Carney said he could not undertakea proposal of any description unless M* ! J^ysnar got the consent of the Prime* Minister. At that time witness was a, partner with Armour's in the Hawk«s | Bay business, but he was not a partnernow, nor had he been for two years At> | a later interview at Hastings Mr. Cfney was against the acquisition of the works by Vesteys, as it, would interfere'with. | the arrangements for the season. lil October, 1923, witness was in Gisborne | and in company with Mr. Carney meb Mr. Lysnar. There was a general discussion on the same lines, except that, the price offered by Vestey's to the bank was known, and Mr. Lysnar's suggestion, was that Armour's should offer the earn©, sum. That proposal was deferred, and) it was suggested that a joint proposal be. made by Borthwick's, Sims Cooper; Vestey.s, and Armour's; but that also wasturned down. At no time did Mr. Lysnar suggest selling the works to Armour s. The only suggestion was mortgage and preference shares in regard to the management of the Poverty Bay Farmers' Meat Works. Witness had no* cause for complaint. Ho had arrangements to kill 20,000 sheep, and was contemplating an increase to 150,000' if the* I works had been carried on. ■ -....- To Mr. Taylor, witness .said that at! the meeting in Gisborne the suggestion, was made that Armour's should advance. £225,000 on loan. He and Armours were to get the advantage of the-lowest rate prevailing at tha works if this were put through. Witness admitted that hi* and Armour's would be getting an advantage compared with, actual shareholders: • George David Lidgett; formerly chief engineer at the Poverty Bay works, gave evidence that the machinery in the mechanical portion was in excellent condition. He got all he required for the stores. He did not agree with Mr. Jolly's statement that the works had been starved for some years. There had been several improvements in the works during hii term'of office. ° ■ T°i !Mr;, ay]?r' witness" aaid 'it was possible that Vestey's might have to spend some money on the works bub he could not agree with Mr. Rowland's estimate that £30,000 would be required.