“ A DELIBERATE LIE.”

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4225, 7 May 1912, Page 5

“ A DELIBERATE LIE.”

I'HE ACCUSATION WITHDRAWN. SUGAR COMPANY’S REPLY. PROTEST AGAINST TREATMENT. DIRECTORS WILL NOT ATTEND Electric Telegraph—Priss Association. " Copyright. Sydney, Last Night. At the Sugar Commission the Chairman announced that in view of certain facts which had been published, Mr Knox, general manager of rite Colonial Sugar Refining Co., evidently believed he had grounds for his accusation against the Commission concerning the supplying of a copy of the evidence. Therefore o ' (the chairman) withdrew his terms which characterised Mr Knox’s accusation as “a deliberate lie.” Whatever Mr Knox’s belief, however, the charge was baseless. He then oallei upon Mr Knox and the other directors of the Sugar Company to give evidence, but they all failed to respond. The Chairman stated he would now leave the matter in the hands of the Federal Government, and adjourned the sitting till Thursday.

Mr Knox forwarded a letter stating he would appear when he had the assurance of the Commission that the statement to be tendered by him would be received in full as part of the records of the Commission, an l when a record of the evidence alrea ly taken was supplied to him and tf time and opportunity given him of replying to it later. The Chairman of the Company wrote stating that the absence of himself and co-directors was a protest against the treatment the Company and general manager had received at the hands of the Commission. They were prepared to attend if, after Mr Knox had presented the Company’s case and had had an opportunity of replying to the evidence already taken the Commissioners were still of the opinion that a useful purpose would be served. .Hr Hughes, Federal AttorneyGeneral, stated he had given instructions to have certain steps taken.