Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, MARCH 21st, 1910. MINISTERS IN A FIX.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 March 1910, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, MARCH 21st, 1910. MINISTERS IN A FIX.

Tin. Ministers appear to bo in a nice dilemma over the now notorious "!•.. A. Smith" case, which aroused much stir in political circles some two months ago. It will be remembered that the allegation put forth by the Opposition was that that a firm of shipping agents under the style of "E. A. Smith" had a monopoly of the business of booking emigrants assisted by the New Zealand Government to the dominion, and that it drew large rebates from the shipping companies. The objection to this arrangement was that it eliminated the competition of other shipping agents. and consequently the dominion's interests were suffering. It was further stated that the head of the firm was a. son of Sir Walter Kennaway, who fur many years was secretary to the High Commissioner's office in London. These statements naturally called for some explanation from the Government, and the Premier said be personally knew nothing of the firm or its origin. No authority, he said, had ever been asked tor or obtained by the High Commissioner for that or any other linn to cany otit work of this particular kifid. The Government professed entire ignorance of the whole matter. An interesting sequel has now occurred. The Opposition papers Instructed their agents in London to interview the ex-High Commissioner (11.,n. W. P. Reeves) and Mr Konnaway mi the subject. Their statements do not coincide with the explanations put brth bv the Ministers. The Hon. W. I'. Reeves, late High Commissioner, told an interviewer that it was ludicrous to suggest (hat Mr. Kennaway's connection with the office was

kept sen of. He says that, in a letter which lie wrote to the New Zealand Government in 1906 he went out of his way to explain what Mr. Kennaway

| w;-is doing, and his connection with the I < Hi« i: It was then explained that he I was doing New Zealand's shipping j business, and that he had by a gradual | process become the linn of "E. A. Smith." Mr. Reeves says lie is sure j these facts are on record ill the Go- | \erninent Department. In an interI view Mr. Kennaway explained his con- ! necttoii with the firm." lie joined it j in 1896 under a partnership agreement ; with Mr. Smith. The latter dropped out of the business in 1900. and it had since been carried on ill his name as his family retained an interest in it for some years. Mr. Kennaway bore <>ul Mr. Reeves statement that the Government was fully, cognisant of the position. '•There is a letter in the Department," he said, '•.advising the Government of the existence of the arrangement. About three or four years ago another letter was sent out explaining the position." An explanation is needed of the wide discreporencv betwceti the statements made bv the Ministers and the dominion's representatives in I don. Further than this, it is not altogether apparent that the arrangement is in the best interests of the dominion. That phase of the matter will doubtless be discussed m Parliament. In the meantime, it will be interesting to note the manner in which the Government will reconcile its professed ignorance of the matter with the frank statements made bv the Hon. W. P. Reeves and Mr. Kennaway.