CEMENT CHARGES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 1 November 1921, Page 5

CEMENT CHARGES

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

LETTER FROM MR MASTERS TO PRIME MINISTER,

In connect ion with the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry proposed to be set up to investigate the charges made by Mr R. Masters, member for SiruC ford, in connection wit it Lite price oi cement and other matters relating thereto, the following communication lias been forwarded to the- I'rime. Minister bv" Mr Masters : '"Dear Sir,—l respcctfuly desire to draw your attention to clause 1 of the order of reference herein. It is a.-, lot lows:— • , p ~. i "(1) Whether the Board oi 1 rade. in December, 1920, in sanctioning _ a maximum retail price of cement in New Zealand of £9 13? 6d per ton ex More ■ "Wellington, was guilty ot any impropriety "or of <t> grievous error of judgment? „ it , 'T did not in any part- ot the speech made by me in the House, on 29th September, refer to the maximum retail price of cement in New Zealand. as h<>. ing '£9 13s 6d ner ton ex store. Wellington.' My speech is reported in ITarisnrrt of that date, and you v.ill find that I did not. in any .part- of ii use the figures £9 13s 6d or ihe words 'ex store, Wellington.' "What I did say was: M want honourable members to follow me with the prices of cement during the last lew vears. In 1918 the price of cement was £2 3s at the works; in 1919 the price was £3 17a; in'the middle of 1920 ha.J risen to £6 0s 6d per ton. In spite oi these heavy rises some of ihesi^ compan-ies-approached the !<oard of Trad, tnty a farther rise. What happened then! Mr. Wilford: 'Which companies were those?' , 'Mr Masters: They were the .Mdbiirn Company. Wilson's Company, and Ihe Golden Hav Company. In spite "I ihe heavy rises thai had taken place up to the middle of 1920, the Hoard of Trade agreed to a further rise of 36s ner ton. to take effect from Ist, January. 1921.1 bringing the price up to £7 10s ner ton. between 1318 and 1921. "You will, therefore. Fee that t complained that. in. snite of the heavv rises that had taken nlace up to the middle of. 1620, the Board of Trade nirrced to a further rise of 36s per ton to take, effect'from Ist January. 1921. "T therefore resneetfully surest that a supplementary clause he added to clause (1) of the order of reference, as follows: — "(J) Whether the Board of Trade, in December, 1920, in sanctioning a furH<r>r rjc.p, of 36s ner ton in I'" price of cement, whs guilty of any impropriety or of ;i grievous error <,!' judgment? "I also desire to draw your attention to clause. 3 of the order of reference. 1 Raid that the agreement therein referred to was in restraint- of trade. [ therefore respectfully request that the followim". words he added to that- clause: 'Or hi restraint of trade. ' "I make these requests with confidence, in view of the fact that the Hon. Minister in charge of the BnaVd of Trade distinctly slated in reply to t) e Leader of the Opposition that 'Counsel appearing for the Crown will be instructed tin inform the Judge that the] Crown desires the, order of reference to .be interpreted as broadly as possible, and any widening of the order that may be suggested by counsel for the < ther side wilt not be objected to by the Crown.' "

ENQUIRY RESUMED

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, This Day. Tito cement enquiry was resumed to-day, when Mr Perry, for Mr Masters, *said he had consulted the Solici-tor-General, with the result that they had agreed upon the addition of a suhclause.

.Tildes Sim said he could not add anything to the order of reference, j lint if evidence on the point desired to he incorporated was put. in and not objected to it would moot the ease. Mr Perry said it had been verv difficult for his side to obtain evidence, because the people who were the parties affected were not keen to give evidence. .13 the}' were dependent on the other two companies for cement supplies. Still,'he hoped to produce such evidence ns would conclusively satisfy the Commission that the agreement was in restraint of trade and illegal, thai these companies might take advantage of an acute shortage of cement to start unreasonably high prices. Further he hoped to show that the Board of Trade in authorising the. increase acted improperly and with lack of judgment.