THE VESTEY ENQUIRY

Patea Mail, Volume XLVIII, 1 June 1925, Page 2

THE VESTEY ENQUIRY

A PLEA FOR VESTEYS - WELLINGTON, May 28. At the Vcstcy enquiry to-day, Dr. E-cakes, Director-General of Agriculture, said that the Hon. MacDonald, when Minister for Agriculture, was instrumental in passing the Act of 1918, and was strongly opposed to trusts, yet he had renewed Vesteys’ license from year to year. He (Dr. .Reakes) had closely supervised the operations of Vosteys, but declared that their operations were were not inimical to public interest. He denied that the Hon. Nosworthy can in any way be influenced by big financial interests regarding the sale of the Poverty Bay works to Vesteys. Dr. Reakcs said the Minister was impressed by the fact that the local authorities themselves did not protest against the transfers. He told the-Hon. Nosworthy that he could not sec anything to warrant Mr Nosworthy refusing consent to the transfer. Dr. Reakes considered that the closing of one of the three Poverty Bay works would benefit the farmers there. As Vesteys had not been guilty of anything that would warrant the refusal of the transfer, ho would not be justified in assuming that if the license were transferred Vesteys would proceed to adopt methods inimical to public interest. Since the granting of the license he knew no facts showing that any injury to fanners in the district had resulted.