SUGAR COMMISSION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143784, 7 May 1912, Page 3

SUGAR COMMISSION.

A DEADLOCK REACHED. ACTION BY THE COMMONWEALTH By Electric 'telegraph.—Copyright. SYDNEY, May 6.

At the Sugar Commission tho chairman announced that in view of certain facts which had been published, Mr. Knox evidently believed that ho had grounds for the accusation he made against tho commissioner. Therefore, ho (tho chairman) withdrew tho terms with which ho had characterised Mr. Knox’s accusation when ho said that it was "a deliberate lie." Whatever Mr. Knox’s belief, however, tho charge was baseless. Ho then called Mr. Knox and tho other directors of tho Sugar Company, all of whom failed to respond. The chairman stated that ho would now leave tho matter in tho hands of the Federal Government, and adjourned the sitting till Thursday. Air. Knox forwarded, a letter stating that ho would appear when ho had an assurance that the statement tendered by liim would bo received in full as part of the records of tho commission, and when a record of the evidence already taken was supplied to him and time and opportunity given for replying to it. Later the chairman of tho company wrote stating that the absence of himself and his co-directors was a protest against tho treatment tho company and the general manager hud received at the hands of tho commission. They were prepared to attend if, after Mr. Knox had presented the company’s case and had opportunity of replying to the evidence already taken, tho commissioners wore still of the opinion that a useful purpose would ho served. Mr. Hughes, Attorney-General, stated that ho had given instructions for certain steps to bo taken.