HANDLING OF PRODUCE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1765, 17 March 1921, Page 5

HANDLING OF PRODUCE.

INTER-LOCKING INTERESTS. In dealing in the House of Repr» sentatives with the market depression, Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) argued that this was duo to four causes—(l) tightness of money; (2) want of shipping; (3) the accumulation of large stocks by the Imperial authorities ana their mishandling of their stocks; (4) the operations of trusts and combines. He had opposed the appointment of Sir Thomas Robinson to the position of Meat Controller when it was first made, on the ground that Sir Thomas was largely interested in the meat and shipping business. Ho had also acted as agent for Armour and Co. According to ■ the annual return, Sir Thomas Robinson was one of the shareholders in the Federal steam Navigation Company, Ltd. This company was also a shareholder in the firm of Birt and Co., which was engaged in the handling of general produce. Birt and Co. adver- • tised that they owned the Ocean Beach Freezing works at Invercargill. This firm had acted as agent in Australia for Armour and Co.’s. Australian meat had been shipped to England in the name of Sir Thomas Robinson. Mr Lysnar appealed to the Prime Minister not to allow Sir Thomas Robinson to be appointed to handle matters in dispute in connection with Imperial meat in store in New Zealand. It was not fair to Sir Thomas Robinson or to the producers that such an appointment should be made. * ■,