PORT OF BRISTOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 22

PORT OF BRISTOL.

STATEMENT BY SIR WALTER BUCHANAN. MR LVSNAR IN REPLY. GISBORNE, August 4. In an interview with a reporter to-day regarding Sir Walter Buchanan's statement at tin- Agricultural Conference that Mr Lysnar’a remarks about the capacity of the stores at Bristol for handling Now Zealand produce were disputed absolutely, and that in other respects iic considered Mr Lysnar s statements had been most unfortunate, Mr In soar stated that lie was surprised to see a veteran like Sir Walter Buchanan making statements that he must know full well lie could not justify. In the first place, Air Lysnar said, ho would like to point out that Sir Walter was chairman of the Wellington Moat Export Company, of which Air W. G. Foster was manager, and the controversy that took place between Air Foster and himself regarding the capacity of the stores at Bristol would be fresh in the minds of the public. “It will be remembered,” said Air Lysnar, “ that Air Foster, when challenged, failed to in any way justify his statement, while I gave detailed information showing that Mr Foster’s information' was wrong. I am aware that I stated publicly again and again that by the present movement we would no working against those firms and companies which are buyers ejf meat in this dominion, and if the Producers’ Association became properly established these New Zealand buyers would have to pay practically double

what they have in the past paid or they would riot get the meat. I can readily understand that Sir Walter Buchanan would, from his own company's point of view, which is a meat-buying company as well as being a freezing company, consider my statement as being most unfortunate. But will Sir Walter say this statement is unfortunate from the producers’ point of view?” Mr Lysnar said that he would hkc to remind Sir Walter that be had pub.iely acknowledged that facilities for handling meat in London were bad, and wore no bettor to-day than they were when he wao in England two or three years previously. Mr Lysnar added;—“lt is hard enough lo fight for reforms under ordinary conditions, but when those who should assist ejo the reverse it makes reforms extremely ditlicu.t and hard to obtain, and for these reasons I ask Sir Walter Buchanan for the time being to look at the question from a dominion or producers’ point of view, and gi' - tho Bristol and Dominion Producers Association his whole-hearted support. As justifying mv previous statement I will quote a' letter‘dated May 30 which I received from one of the meat merchants of BiistoJ, in which ho says:—‘Wo note with intoios. that vou have been addressing a meeting at Invercargill, and that vou have given an answer to the people at Wellington who ai e unfairly trying to decry the storage capacity of Bristol. W ith reference to aAvon Cold Storage Company, the same is now in course of construction, and m a few months will be erected.’ It was at In-vcrearo-ill I made mv first reply to Mr Foster, and my remarks had been copied into the British papers.”