TRUSTS NOT FAVOURED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18887, 9 December 1924, Page 10

TRUSTS NOT FAVOURED.

MEAT BOARD'S POSITION. '

CHAIRMAN DENIES CHARGE.

FULL INQUIRY WELCOMED.

"Fes, I read what Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P. for Gisboine, had to say, and the charge he made against tho board, and more particularly .npainst myself," said Mr. David Jones, chairman of tho NewZealand Meat Producers' Board, on Ins return from Britain by the Niagara yesterday. "The gist of it was that the board and myself favoured the meat trusts, and he asked for my removal from the board.

"I will'make a full answer at tho inquiry that is to be made into his charges. Meanwhile I would point out that at the annual election of representatives of producers to elect the' board, Mr. Lysnar was nominated as a candidate. I was

pleased to see this, because it gave Mi. Lysnar an opportunity of proving that he had tho support or otherwise of the sheepfarmers of is borne and Poverty Bay, who knew tho facts. Mr. Lysnar, however, withdrew from tie election.

• "The representatives of the sheep-' farmers of the Dominion were elected, and met in Wellington to hear the annual report of the board and to elect tho new board. If Mr. Lysnar had believed in his own ease, ho could have made a request to be heard beforo this meeting, .Representatives of his own district wore there, and it was essentially the ideal court to hear charges in which all were vitally interested. Mr. Lysnar did not choose to trust his case to his fellow sheepfaj-mcrs. "Instead, Mr. Lysnar has appealed to the Government. He made a charge in Parliament and demanded an inquiry, winch, I understand, has been agreed to. My board will welcome tho fullest investigation, but ris' order of reference must be wide encugh to cover >all the fact,s, and as open to the public ,as the charges made by Mr. Lysnar. "No disinterested person would charge tho board with favouring trusts. The resolution setting out the board's policy in regard to trusts was passed, not because of any public agitation, but because the board realised the serious position that would ' arise if outside interests gained control of New Zealand meat. The resolution will be given effect if necessary. "It is, of course, to bo expected that some will come into conflict with the board's actions and, by bitter attacks, endeavour to create a smoke-screen under which they may attempt to escape without observation. But the producers will bo guided- by results."