MEAT WORKS SALE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 51, 28 August 1925, Page 8

MEAT WORKS SALE

A QUESTION OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE. Following is an extract from the report of the Lysnar Commission :— "During the hearing, Mr. Lysnar gave evidence of certain interviews that he had with Mr: Jolly.. One of these interviews related to the question as to whether Mr. Lysnar had, or had not, threatened to use political influence to stop the sale. The first intimation that Mr. Jolly had of this matter was, he stated, that ho received a telegram from his manager at Gisborne reporting that there was a rumour in Gisborne to this effect. He thereupon sent for Mr. Lysnar, and Mr. Lysnar says that he resented Mi. Jolfy, as his banker, endeavouring to dictate to him as to what his political actions should be. Mr. Jolly s point of view was that he was indignant—and, we think, rightly indignant—at any att*mpt by Mr. Lysnar or any threat by Mr. Lysnar to use his political influence to interfere with what he admitted was the legal right of the bank to exercise its power of sale. Mr. Jolly was cross-examined, as appears in the notes of evidence, and as this is an important matter, we attach certain extracts from the evidence. (See Appendix "O".) We have formed the opinion that Mr. Jolly's story is the more correct one, and that he did not know of the political issue being raised until he heard by a telegram from his Gisborne manager that there was a rumour in Gisborne to the effect that Mr. Lysnar proposed to use his political influence in a certain direction towards stopping the proposed sale. We also believe that it was because he heard of the rumour ht sent for Mr. Lysnar. Another matter in which the question of political influence and financial pressure came into the issue was in respect of a certain interview which took place bet\\ een Mr. Jolly and Mr. Lysnar in regard to Mr. Lysnar's own bank account. Notes of th? cross-examination of Mr. Jolly about this matter appear at pages 63V, 638, and 639. This interview was on the 12th September, and according to the evidence of Mr. Jolly, was before he had any interview with the Minister of- Agriculture about this matter. In oui opinion, this was a matter between the bank and Mr. Lysnar. It had nothing to do with, was not inspired by, and j was not connected with the Minister of Agriculture or any member of the Government in any way."