A MINISTER EXONERATED

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 52, 29 August 1925, Page 6

A MINISTER EXONERATED

It would take a considerable time to peruse the voluminous report of the Lysnar Meat Commission and to read tho mass of evidence upon whioh the Commissioners formed their conclusions. Its cost to the country also calls for comment, and it is not surprising that this aspect of the matter should have engaged the attention of the House of Eepresentatives. But it is gratifying to learn what was perfectly clear in the mind of the public before the Commission took a word of evidence: that the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Nosworthy) was blameless in this business of the passing of the sheepfarmers' works to other owners. The company had got into difficulties, and its bankers sought and obtained the assistance of the Court in securing its interests in the undertaking. The Minister then "came to a fair and reasonable decision" (to quote the report) in consenting to the transfer of the Poverty Bay Sheepfarmers' Company's license to the purchasers of the works. It is difficult to see how the Minister could have legally, or morally acted otherwise in a strictly business matter of this sort. 4 The company did not or could not satisfy the bank, which took the usual legal steps to protect itself. In these circumstances the Minister, whatever his sentiments might have been or may be, could not have done more or less than he did. It is therefore satisfactory to record that the Commission is convinced that he acted in no way contrary to public interests.